Most people understand the importance of winterizing their home and doing an annual spring cleaning. But what about getting ready for autumn? Autumn preparation is a wonderful opportunity to pre-game winterizing your home, making home maintenance around the holidays a bit less strenuous and cumbersome. It is also an opportunity to clean up part of the mess that summer made of your exterior – before the mess creates actual damage. Utilizing the more neutral weather season as an opportunity to get outside and do some work and maintenance on your home is a great way to keep your home beautiful and damage-free all year round.
The Roof
Because the effects of winter can put a lot of pressure on your roof, it is essential to check your roof between seasons to ensure it is up to the task at hand. One obvious place to begin your inspection is your attic. Since your attic is the first layer of protection between the rest of your home and whatever is on your roof, it will exhibit many of the
first signs of a problem. Make sure there are no leaks, wet spots, or watermarks.
Once you have checked the attic for signs of a problem, it is time to get up on the roof and check for any issues. Remove all of the debris and leaves that the summer has left on your roof. It is also a great idea to look for missing or loose shingles and inspect the flashing and caulking that keep the water out of your home.
Finally, clean those gutters. Summer rain can bring high winds, leaving debris in your gutters. Make sure you get in there and remove any leaves and debris that may clog your gutters, causing issues such as ice dams or damage to your home in the winter months.
Your Siding
In addition to your roof, you should be checking the siding of your home as well. When siding develops a problem, your interior walls and wiring are no longer protected, creating a larger issue for you and your home. Therefore, power washing your home after summer and before winter is a great way to remove all of the dirt, debris, and overall junk from your home. Not only does power washing help your home stay beautiful, but it also makes it easier to check for problem areas. Once your home is clean, begin looking for cracks or loose panels and make the necessary repairs. If left unattended, these issues can cause costly damage to your home.
By taking care of these exterior issues in time for autumn, you allow for a break with winterizing your home, so that you may only have to ensure your windows, doors, and overall insulation is intact during the busy holiday season. To learn more about the importance of these home inspections, contact the experts at Roof to Deck Restoration at (651) 699-3504. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to answer your questions and provide the professional help many of these tasks may require to get your exterior ready for the colder months ahead.
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