Blog By: Holmes Approved Homes
I always say protect your house from the outside in. It’s not always possible to get the right contractor for the job right away, so now is a great time to start planning jobs and repairs that should be addressed before temperatures start to drop. This is especially important when it comes to your home’s exterior. It is important to keep up with the maintenance of your home.
Walk around the exterior of your home and make a note of the following potential maintenance issues:
- Check foundation for cracks and leaks
- Install or maintain weather stripping on exterior doors
- Clean gutters and eaves-troughs and schedule repairs, if needed
- Inspect exterior caulking for shrinkage or cracking—re-caulk as needed.
- Have your trees trimmed to remove any dead, weak or snapped branches or limbs
- Shut off exterior water faucets before the temperature dips below freezing
- Remove window A/C units (if installed in your home)
- Seal gaps, cracks or openings where pests and critters can enter
If you have a foundation crack or basement leak that is definitely a potentially major maintenance issue that you will want to fix as soon as possible, especially before winter. Any crack that you can fit a dime in needs to be looked at by a professional. Such as a structural engineer or foundation specialist. Any exterior re-caulking should be done sooner rather than later. You can hire a pro or do-it-yourself, but make sure to use a rubberized caulking that is made specifically for outdoor applications.
Most homeowners think they can wait until the first snow fall to get their home’s exterior ready for winter. But they often forget about all the work and planning that goes into doing a job right. What about your research on products, materials, what needs to be done and why, and of course, hiring the right pro to do it when it you need it done? Don’t put it off. Do it now and you’ll be in a better position to get it done right.
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