Home Maintenance Steps You Need to Take This Fall
Pumpkin spice and everything nice — that’s not all that fall is made of. It’s also a time to take stock and take action in preparation for the coming winter. With the weather getting colder and days growing shorter, the need for proper home maintenance becomes increasingly paramount. It’s a good idea, then, to have a checklist that focuses on the following.
Your Roof
No doubt, your roof is the most important part of your home, and this becomes doubly so in cold weather. This is mainly because a roof in good condition effectively insulates your home, thereby decreasing your heating and utility bills.
As a general rule of thumb, you need to inspect your roof for any leaks, punctures, cracks, broken shingles, and the like long before the first flurries fall. This is because, with wet weather and heavy snowfall, roof issues can escalate very quickly. Needless to say, you really don’t want to be left with a large hole in your roof in subzero temperatures.
Another thing that you need to do in terms of roof maintenance is to clean out your gutters. Accumulated leaves and debris can cause ice dams and overflows, which would impede the flow of snow and water and result in heavy buildups that will inevitably damage your roof.
If this task seems a little beyond your means, then you can hire professionals to tackle the job for you. However, keep in mind that, depending upon the size of your home, you may end up paying between $75 and $250 for this particular service.
Your Yard
Your yard is another area of your home that needs a great deal of attention in the fall. In fact, how well you winterize your lawn could spell the difference between joy and disappointment come spring. At the very least, you will need to ensure that your grass is at a healthy length before the first frost. You will also need to apply fertilizer, build up your compost pile, and more.
With the sheer amount of work needed by your garden in the fall, getting expert help in winterizing your yard is indeed worthy of consideration. If your budget permits, hire a landscape gardening service to clear your lawn of fallen leaves, branches, and other debris, as well as to give your lawn proper treatment before snowfalls.
Your Outdoors (the Rest of It)
Lastly, don’t forget to survey the rest of your outdoor space for anything else that might need attention. Look out for cracks in your driveway and seal them up as water can get into them and later, freeze, which makes your driveway a slip hazard. Also, make sure to turn off your outdoor faucets and drain (or better yet, disconnect) houses to keep your pipes from bursting. And don’t forget to cover up or bring in your outdoor furniture!
With home winter prep out of the way, you can now rest comfortably in a warm home that’s also safe and secure from the elements. So, hunker down and get cozy — you’ve earned it!
Photo via Unsplash
Article compliments of Clara Beaufort
