I know, we’re still enjoying summer as much as is possible these days, but unfortunately, summer is going to wrap up soon. It’s only a matter of weeks before fall sets in and now is the time we should be getting ready.
Here we are about a week into August and it’s time to start thinking about getting our homes ready for winter. That’s right, I said it…WINTER! Let’s take a quick look at a few things to do…
Home Inspection: no, we don’t need to call in a professional for this, but we do need to give our houses a once over from top to bottom. Look for damaged or weak spots on the roof. Loose shingles or roofing tin can cause leaking issues in winter and are ultimately more difficult to repair in the cold, snow and ice. If you have issues with ice dams in the winter, now might be a good time to add some attic insulation. Don’t forget to look at roof overhangs and trim such as flashings, facia, and soffits. Make sure it’s all properly secured and replace or repair as needed.
Check caulking around doors and windows to help keep drafts to a minimum. Replace and dry, cracked or damaged caulking and repaint wooded frames and trims. This will also protect wooden surfaces from water damage that can get expensive to repair if they begin to rot.
Give your siding a once over look for any loose or damaged spots. Fall can bring some strong winds and if you lose any siding, you may end up with exposed wooden sheeting that can be destroyed by water infiltration.
Give any outdoor handrails a good shake and make sure they are secure. The last thing you want is to slip on some ice and have your handrail give way. At the same time, have a look at any stairs, especially those made of wood and replace them if they appear weak. Concrete steps also tend to wear down and get rounded at the fronts, making slips and falls more likely.
Our homes have gone through storms, heat waves, high winds and driving rains over the course of the summer. Mother nature doesn’t give a hoot about your house and will do what she does best…damage it. Regular maintenance and repairs will not only keep your house in top shape, but also help avoid repairs that need to be done in the most difficult of times.
Let’s not forget about the possibility of a second wave of Covid-19. This virus has buggered up life for most of us in some way. Shortages of various products have been unpredictable at the best of times. Most recently I have heard of a shortage of chicken wire. How we went from shortages of flour or yeast to chicken wire is beyond me, and I would never have guessed it would be an issue, but somehow it is. Better to get repairs done now, while materials are available than to run into supply issues later when repairs become more urgent.
