The latest in low-maintenance living

Creating a beautiful home is always goal No. 1 among remodelers. But making the place more functional is a close second. These days, the home that works the best is the one that requires the least amount of upkeep.

Here are several tips from Consumer Reports that will help you drive the low-maintenance living trend home.

Interior Features That Count

Choose a countertop that resists stains. Natural stone, including marble and granite, makes for a beautiful countertop, but staining is an issue unless you regularly apply a protective sealant. A more low-maintenance option is quartz, an engineered material made from stone chips, resins and pigments, that stood up to stains in Consumer Reports’ tough countertop tests, as well as scratches, cuts and high heat.

Go for the least-fussy finishes. Stainless steel has dominated appliances for decades. The only knock against the material is that it can be prone to smudges and fingerprints. That’s creating a lot of interest in black stainless steel, which has a darker, more matte finish than traditional stainless, and fends off smudges and prints.

As for kitchen fixtures, Consumer Reports’ tests have found that faucets with a physical vapor deposition, or PVD, finish are best at resisting scratches; the protective coating comes in nickel, copper, pewter, bronze, gold and polished brass. Undermount sinks provide easier cleanup, with stainless steel offering the best protection against stains, scratches and impact from sharp objects.

Trade in the carpet for hardwood flooring. For all its softness underfoot, wall-to-wall carpet requires regular vacuuming, not to mention constant fretting over spilled wine and other would-be stains. That’s driving more interest in low-maintenance hardwood flooring. Budget permitting, it’s worth paying more for solid wood flooring with a factory finish. You’ll still want to put felt pads under heavy furniture to prevent scratching.

Upkeep You Can’t Ignore

Maintain the mechanical systems. Your home’s heating, cooling and ventilation equipment is the engine that keeps things running. Consumer Reports has found American Standard and Trane to be among the least repair-prone manufacturers of gas furnaces. Installing central air conditioning is another upgrade that’s become more popular, since it eliminates the need to install and remove window air-conditioning units during the year.

Don’t skimp on exterior coatings. As a general rule, the economy grades of exterior paints don’t weather as well as top-of-the-line products from the same brand. When it comes to stains, solid formulas typically hold up the longest, while clear stains provide the least protection. Semitransparent wood treatments are a good compromise if you want to see some of the wood grain but don’t want to have to refinish every year.

Maintain the roof. There’s a reason prospective buyers always ask about the condition of the roof. It’s the first line of defense against water damage, ice dams, pest infestations and other potential disasters. Be on the lookout for cracked, curled or missing shingles, which are signs that the roof is near the end of its life. The flashing around chimneys, skylights and roof valleys is another common failure point, so periodically have that area inspected.

Keep the plumbing lines flowing. Clogs and leaks can be enormously costly, and a good home inspector will be sure to spot them when you go to sell your home. A few simple precautions can really pay off. For example, using a toilet paper that scored well in Consumer Reports’ disintegration test will be easier on plumbing lines, especially in older homes.

To learn more, visit ConsumerReports.org.

2016 Consumers Union Inc.