Introduction
Late summer is the perfect time to begin preparing your home for the fall and winter months. With proper preparation, you can avoid the stress and cost of unexpected repairs when snow is on its way. In this article, we'll discuss some of the most important things you should do to prepare your home before the snow falls!
Check for Foundation Cracks
Inspect all areas of your home for foundation cracks. Cracks are most commonly seen in walls, ceilings, and basement foundation walls. If a crack is noticed, don't fret! Mark it with tape and keep track of its width. If it continues growing, call in professionals to take a look!
Testing basement moisture levels and checking for cracks along foundation walls is important to ensure that you don't end up with a wet basement in the spring! If you
experience any damp areas in your basement, make a note and check on them regularly during times of heavy rainfall or spring melt.
Clean Gutters
If you've never cleaned your gutters before, now is the time. Gutter cleaning is an essential part of fall home preparation. Gutters are designed to channel water away from your house, but that doesn't mean they're invincible—if you don't clean them out regularly, debris can clog up the system and cause leaks or even structural damage.
To check for damage:
Look at the gutters themselves for signs of corrosion or dents in their seams. If there are any visible cracks in metal gutter brackets or fasteners, this could be a sign that your gutters need to be replaced immediately.
Check for cracks around where pipes come into contact with walls or ground level; these can lead to leaks if left unattended over time—and again, it's best not to wait until winter approaches before fixing them!
Check Insulation
Now is also a good time to check insulation levels. It is recommended that your basement and attic insulation be checked yearly. If you're not sure where the best place to start is, hire a professional who can perform an energy assessment of your home and make recommendations on what needs to be done first.
Repair Driveway and Walkways
Before you can begin setting up your home for the fall season, there are a few things that need to be taken care of in and around your driveway and walkways.
First, inspect them for cracks or holes. If there are any, fill them in with sand or gravel before sealing them up with a patching material.
Next, check for drainage issues; if rainwater is pooling around the house after a storm and causing erosion damage to the foundation or basement walls, install drainage pipes along each side of the driveway leading away from it.
Finally, inspect for damaged concrete as well as cracks or holes that may have appeared over time due to freezing temperatures during the winter months—this will determine whether you should repair them yourself or hire someone else to do this job instead.
Check Yard Grading
Check the grading of your yard. You want to make sure that it drains properly and has a good slope away from your house. If you have a flat yard, consider adding some landscaping or a retaining wall to help with water runoff. This is also an excellent time of year to re-do any landscaping if you've been considering it for a while!
Conclusion
We hope you've found this guide helpful! We know that fall is a busy time, but if you take the time now to prepare your home for winter, it'll be easier on everyone in the spring!