Although people around the country are still dealing with the heat, now is the best time to look ahead and prepare your house for fall.
It might seem counterintuitive, but while the days are hot and dry, now is the time to think ahead and start preparing for when the weather turns cold and wet.
If you know you have problems with the water, wind, and rain that comes with the autumn, you need to prepare for them now. It’s good to fix problems when they happen; it’s better to fix them before they start. Now is the time to consider contacting a contractor to help you prepare your house to fall, but there are also several things you can do on your own.
Schedule an Inspection
Before you consider doing any major work on your home, your first step should be to reach out to a contractor and schedule an inspection. Whether you are looking for ways to shore up your house in case of potential weather-related disasters or you just want to make sure there are no leaks in the foundation, a quick inspection will cost you very little and can possibly save you a lot.
If the inspection does uncover some flaws or problems that need to be addressed, you’ll be glad you dealt with them now rather than when they are falling apart and need and require more time, money, and hassle.
Contact Fleschner now if you’d like to schedule an inspection.
Prepare Your Exterior
Before the rains, winds, and even snows come, take an afternoon and get your house in shape for the seasonal change.
One of the easiest – and yet most important – things you can do is to clean your gutters. You should do this regularly, but people often forget about it in the summer. Remove all leaves, sludge, and anything else up there, and make sure to check the downspouts as well. Depending on the shape (and height) of your house, you may need to contact a professional for this, but they should be able to clear any obstructions and make sure everything is looking good in no time at all.
And while you are at it, now is a good time to prune any large trees. If you have experience with this, hop to it, but you may want to consult an arborist. It’s one thing to just hack some branches off, but it’s another to have a professional look things over and skillfully cut away branches that may cause a problem in the future. If you haven’t done it yet or it’s been a while, it’s also a good idea to have an arborist look over your trees to determine how healthy they are. If there is rot and they end up needing to be removed, it is easier to do it when they are dry than wet.
The type of tree you have also makes a big difference in you pruning and preparation. If they are deciduous, your yard and house will be covered in leaves soon enough so you may want to consider pruning accordingly. If they are evergreen, you’ll want to make sure the branches are healthy enough to hold when the water adds weight. Some trees are notoriously brittle as well, and if there is ice as well as rain, you don’t want one of those branches positioned directly above a house, fence, or power lines.
Waterproof Your Exterior
If you have a wood fence or a deck, if you haven’t already now is the time to add water sealant. If you are considering painting, now is also a great time – just make sure you get something that acts as a sealant, or seal it first and then paint.
You should also check to see if your roof is ready for the fall and winter. If there are cracks or holes, a contractor can generally fix these easily and with little to no fuss. If they have to do so when it is raining or snowing out, it increases the risk and difficulty of the fix. Now is the time to handle these issues.
While you’re at it, give your windows a once over. Modern windows can make a huge difference in insulating a building from both heat and cold. If replacing your windows isn’t an option, you should at least make sure that they are properly caulked and sealed.
And finally, you should check your foundation for any cracks, even tiny ones. They can, of course, let water in, but more they also let in hot and cold air, which makes it harder to insulate your house. Now is the time to deal with that.
Check Your Basement/Crawlspace
You should check your basement or crawlspace for condensation. One recommendation from Houselogic is to tape a 1-foot-square piece of aluminum foil, close the door to the basement/crawlspace, and leave it there for 24 hours.
When you come back and check on it, if there is condensation on the outside of the foil, you have a significant amount of humidity in your basement. You may want to consider investing in a dehumidifier. If there is condensation on the side closest to the wall, there may be a bigger issue with the drainage around your house.
This test is going to be less accurate in the driest days of summer, but it’s something you should consider doing frequently. And either way, ensuring your basement or crawlspace is waterproofed is a good idea regardless. A contractor can help you determine if you need help.
Contact a Contractor Now to Prepare Your House for Fall
Now is the time to prepare your house for the fall and start thinking about the winter as well. Contact Fleschner now to schedule a consultation and we’ll help you prepare for the months to come!