With the winter season officially here, every homeowner should be aware of common homeownership maintenance problems and preventative options for alleviating unexpected costs and time. If you missed Part 1 visit you can check it out here and consider preparing your home for the winter season with the following Part 2 suggestions:
Check your Roof
Before snow covers the vast majority of your roof and has a chance to melt, inspect your roof from the eave (lowest part of the roof line) on a ladder and check for loose, damaged, or missing shingles. If corrections are needed before water has a chance to penetrate the observed areas, hire a handyman to replace a small amount of shingles or a roofer to fix a larger section.
Clean Gutters
When gutters are full of leaves and debris, especially near rooflines that are surrounded by trees, water can back up against the house and damage roofing, siding, and trim as well as possible ice dams. If your home is too large to clean the gutters yourself, consider hiring a handyman for $70-$200 and have them look for missing or damaged downspout drainage system pieces and fascia boards.
Caulk Around Doors & Windows
One of the easiest ways for heat and energy to escape your home, and cost you money, is through old, untreated windows with gaps between the siding and window/door frame. If you see spots that are larger than the size of a nickel, reapply silicone caulk to the exterior. Silicone is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements. Add additional weather-stripping as needed around doors, and check window-glazing putty too.
If you’re planning a move now or in the future, make sure to visit www.HomeFaxInspect.com for your home inspection from Home Fax Inspections, and get your Home Fax Report prior to purchasing the home by visiting www.NationwideHomeFax.com. We’ll be back for Part 3 soon, see you then!