Homeowners Autumn Maintenance Duties
Every autumn it’s a good idea to prepare your home for the upcoming winter months. What should be at the top of your list for things to do is water-tightness. This is because water is the one thing that damages homes the most!
With a visual inspection of your home of places where water may collect or seep into your home you can do the necessary caulking and repairs to prevent any water damage to it.
I have found doing the inspection all at once with a note pad in hand works best. It allows you to have a working “to do” list for repairs once you start. This isn’t rocket science so keep it simple by drawing a diagram of you home.
It doesn’t need to be to scale a plain ol’ box will do. Now start putting dots, x’s, or whatever may help you remember on the diagram where you notice a potential future water damage problem.
Having lines perpendicular to your house box indicating the doors and windows in your home is important because those are area where water can most easily enter the most.
If you suspect you may have a roof leak call a roofer for an inspection. The cost of a roof inspection is around $150-$250 and can be a lifesaver come the next winter storm. If you have a roof that needs replacement a roofer will usually not charge for the inspection if the replace your roof.
What To Look For During Your Inspection:
Window and Doors caulking and seal: Check all four side of windows and doors to see if there is sign of a possible opening that might allow water to intrude. Make sure the windows are not cracked too as this would allow for cold to enter and possible danger of cutting someone if it should break.
Check All Surfaces That Are Painted: Check the wall surfaces for peeling and cracking of the paint. Those places you find peeling and/or cracking you can scrape and lightly sand the surface and use paint from the last paint job you stored in the garage. If you can’t find any paint take a small chip of your current paint color to a paint store and they will make you an amount you will need for your touch up.
Deck and Patio: Check wooden decks and patio thoroughly. Remove any debris or weeds that may have built up over the summer. Any rotten board should be replaced, sanded, stained and painted as needed. If you have brick or stone removal of heaving sections would be a good suggestion. Once again remove any weeds that my have taken up residence.
Driveways and Walkways: If you have asphalt on your driveway you probably already know they need to be sealed every other year. Any potholes or dips can be filled in with asphalt patching materials. If you have concrete then there are some great epoxy patching materials out there, which will solve your problem.
Yard Clean Up and Landscaping: This is time to put your summer garden to bed. Pull out dead plants and compost them. Pull weeds and throw them in a recycle bin or garbage can. Do not put in your compost. If you do you will have lots of weeds to pull in your garden next year. Any fruit that may be on the ground pick it up and compost. Provided it is not diseased. If the fruit on the tree or ground becomes diseased it is important to remove it.
If you prefer not to use your time to do yard clean up and trim your landscaping back ask your gardener if they have a “fall clean up” package, which will save you some time. If you don’t have a gardener look in one of the throw away papers under gardeners and call one that offers such a service.
It seems to be a long list to do but you can do it in one day or stretch it out over several weekends. The important thing is to keep the water out and make your gardening experience next spring enjoyable.