Photo courtesy of propertycluster.com
Although we’ve had a pretty mild summer here in the Midwest, the summer heat wave has almost everyone in this part of the country ready for fall. Before the temperatures drop and cooler weather creeps in, however, it’s a good idea to make sure the exterior of your home is in tip-top shape. To effectively winterize your house, you’ll need to take a few basic precautionary steps to ensure you won’t have a plethora of issues to fix come spring.
To help you get started, we’ve shared a few tips from the home improvement expert Bob Vila below. Isn’t home-ownership great?
- Checking the foundation for cracks and to caulk around the areas where masonry meets siding, where pipes or wires enter the house, and around windows and door frames to prevent heat from escaping.
- Install storm windows and doors and remove screens. Before storing, he suggests cleaning and repairing screens and spraying them with a protective coating.
- Inspect exterior walls to see if any paint is peeling or blistering on the house or outbuildings. If so, address immediately to avoid expensive repairs in the future.
- Make sure your home’s roof is in good shape by inspecting for missing or loose shingles. Hire a certified roofing professional to check the condition of the roof for safety’s sake.
- Be sure to clean out gutters and downspouts after the leaves have fallen and flush them with water. Also, check joints and tighten loose brackets.
- If you have a pool check the cover for damage and replacing if necessary.
- Weather-strip your garage door to prevent drafts and keep out small pests.
- Finally, inspect your home’s driveway for cracks and to repair any damage with filler before coating with a commercial sealer.
To save time and money on your next DIY project, check out all of Rent It Today’s tool rentals. We even offer heavy equipment rentals for larger projects.
