The leaves are changing, the weather is getting colder, and the time is now to evaluate the exterior of your home. Winter brings wet weather and heavy snow which could have a devastating impact on your home if you aren’t properly prepared. If you are planning on selling your home in the spring, taking these 10 tips for fall home improvement could save you a lot of trouble later on. If you aren’t planning on selling, these steps will help capture the most out of your home, and help it last for many more Holidays to come.
These are the ten tips recommended by professionals (and myself, of course) to protect your home:
- Evaluate your roof. Ensure that there are no leaks in your roof; leaks could quickly ruin your day. To find them, look for missing or loose shingles. Find any weak spots in your roofing. If you do seem to have a danger area, replace the shingles or call in a professional. A leaky roof isn’t something to gamble with.
- Clean your gutters. Remember junior high science class? Water expands when frozen. Make sure there are no blockages in your gutters that could trap water and cause a bulge in your gutter. Also, be sure that all the drains are properly sloped and pointed at areas where you want excess water to run off too. (Ex: Not a window well)
- Check your siding and trim. Check for rotting boards or areas where the siding is pulling away. Determine if there is exposed wood that could use a new paint job before the snow moves in.
- Evaluate the deck. Your deck needs to be able to hold extra weight from snow. Be sure that there aren’t any rotting areas or weak areas.
- Check the functionality of you garage door. You’ll want to be parking in the garage when winter hits especially, no one enjoys scraping their windows. Be sure the door works well, also check the interior door for cold air drafts.
- Seal up the windows. This step could almost be #1 in my mind. Having energy efficient windows can save you hundreds on your heating bill during the winter. If possible, replace old windows to create a stronger seal. If not, Pinterest has great DIY options to help seal your windows.
- Turn off valves to exterior hose bibs. Turning off your water, and running the pipes until they are empty is key to avoiding a devastating pipe crises come spring.
- Check your doors. The weather stripping wears down over the years; make sure that yours is still doing its job by preventing drafts.
- Check railings and walkways. Ice makes everything at least three times more precarious. If there isn’t a sturdy handrail to grasp, that could lead to injury to you or your guests.
- Prepare your yard. Rake away the dead leaves from the grass. Many people will use these leaves as mulch in flower beds, but they can be harmful to your lawn. Perhaps even put down a slow-release fertilizer so your lawn will bounce back quickly after the winter.
As a homeowner, it is vital to complete these tasks every fall in order to have a safe and sturdy home for the winter.