Remember our spring maintenance tips (Part One, Part Two)? Doesn’t it seem like we just gave you a list of stuff to do? Welcome to the joys of home ownership and regularly scheduled maintenance! Now that the kids are back in school, it’s time to think about fall upkeep for your home. One day, when the winter wind is howling and you DON’T have to bundle up for an emergency repair, you’ll thank us.
To get the season started, here are is the first half of our Top 10 list of fall maintenance tips for your home:
1. Inspect the Roof
Snow, ice, driving rain and howling winds can all find some creative ways into the house if your roof has missing or damaged shingles. If you’re not the tall ladder climbing type, you can inspect from the ground with a pair of binoculars.
2. Inspect the Exterior Finish
Make sure you check your exterior finish for any signs of damage. Look for things like peeling paint, which indicates it is no longer up to the job of providing a first layer of defence. The cooler temperatures and lower humidity of autumn provide the perfect conditions for a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of your house.
Other signs of trouble include water damage and any cracks in the parging or stucco. Many of the repairs to your exterior finish will require the daytime temperature to be fairly warm, so your time to address problems before the winter will run out sooner than you think!
3. Gutter Cleaning
Yes, again. Your gutters need to be cleaned twice a year to keep them free from debris. This is especially important in the fall to help prevent ice dams which can damage your roof. If your area is heavily treed, you should leave this one until most of the leaves have fallen. If you have a hard time getting to this one every year, consider the new gutter shield options that can take this off your honey-do list at least once a year.
4. Windows
A fresh coat of caulking around the windows will help seal against the cold and wind. This repair is a pretty easy one that that you can probably do yourself on a weekend.
5. Driveway Sealant
The rapid freeze and thaw cycles we’re going to see in a couple of months are really hard on concrete driveways. Consider giving the driveway a fresh coat of sealant to help protect it this year.
There you have it, part one of our Top 10 Fall Maintenance Tips. Some of these tips are geared towards the harsh climate in Edmonton, Alberta, but they will help maintain your house no matter where you call home. Stay tuned for the Part Two! Can’t wait for more news from J and J Coatings? Well, be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest.
Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
