Preparing Your Home’s Exterior for Winter

As the seasons roll on and winter looms, it’s time to get your house in order. Finalizing outdoor improvements and winterizing your home before the cold sets in will not only help keep you warm, but also help protect your living structure from potential damage. The work you do now is a barrier to more costly projects due to improper care or upkeep. Below are a few projects to do so you can preserve your home’s exterior during the winter months.

Look at Your Roof & Gutters

One of the first areas for safeguarding your home is the roof. Many of the problems that can affect your entire home stem from roofing issues. Missing shingles on your roof leave the perfect spot for water to get into places where it shouldn’t which can cause serious damage.  No matter what your roofing is made of, there should be no missing shingles or cracked tiles. To determine the health and condition of your roof, you can inspect it yourself or hire a professional.

As well as tending to your roof, clean out your gutters, too. A build-up of ice or water in clogged gutters creates a snowball effect. Excess water with nowhere to go just sits and can then affect the roof and siding of your home. Properly draining gutters removes any excess moisture from around your home which reduces the chance of water damage.

If you have a chimney, get that inspected too. Routine service during the fall means less worry when lighting up a fire during winter months. Cleaning out your chimney reduces the risk of fire and prevents harmful toxins from lingering in the air in your home. Also during a clean-out, you can note any damage within the chimney that needs to be fixed.

Inspecting House Siding

Siding is meant to protect the structure of your home and act as a barrier that keeps cool air out and warm air in. If you notice holes or missing siding, get it fixed now. In older homes, there may not be a large amount of insulation between your siding and walls, so it’s extremely important to keep your siding in the best shape possible. 

Plus, if you're thinking of selling your home in the future, siding is something that a potential buyer will be looking at when they visit your home. You will benefit from siding updates in more ways than one. Not only will it look better and raise the curb appeal, but it will also help increase your home's worth down the line.

If you have a garage, make sure your doors are working properly as well. Greasing any mechanical part of the door prevents heat loss and keeps the door from getting stuck open. Also consider insulating the door to keep warm air inside your home.

Insulate Attic & Windows

Keeping your attic insulated is one of the best ways to keep your home warm during the winter months. With the right amount of insulation, you can lower your energy bill up to 15% thanks to this extra layer of protection against heat escaping from the home. The same goes for your windows! Properly closing and locking windows assists with keeping cold air out of your home. Some extra insulation around windows should also reduce drafts during storms.

While working on your windows, scan for any weatherstripping. This is the sealing agent around your windows and doors that can become dried out and cracked. If you can fit a dollar bill between the window and it’s closing, it’s time to replace the weather stripping.

Get Your Gear In Order

Snow and ice removal supplies usually get pushed to the back of a storage area during warmer months. Take the time to pull them to the front of the area or unearth them from the basement— you’ll thank yourself when the first winter weather event hits! If you need to replace any of your tools or stock up on other materials, go out and buy them now to avoid the empty shelves that accompany the first major storm.

Additionally, if you need to make any improvements before winter sets in, do your research as to what will aid you most when it comes to a colder season. Seeing neighborhood trends on a site where you can browse homes for sale by state will help you make accurate decisions about which improvements will be worth your time and money so you don’t overestimate any major repairs or renovations and damage your resale value over time.

The proper maintenance of your home’s exterior is the first line of defense against colder winter temperatures. Taking the time to complete projects in the fall will not only save you money, but will also help keep your house warm during the winter.