Although it may not seem urgent or important at the moment, getting your house ready for the coming winter weather is a good idea if you want to enjoy the rest of the autumn and winter indoors. If the winters in your region tend to be severe, you should start making preparations for your house and property as soon as possible so that you won’t be caught off guard when the first frost of the season arrives. Follow these handy tips from Imperial Power Washing!
Wood on the Outside Should Be Painted, Caulked, and Sealed
All the wood trim around your home that is exposed to the elements must have some kind of protection applied to it. Most decks these days utilize pressure-treated or rot-resistant wood, however, the trim around your doors and windows is likely simply a thin pine board that would decay fast if not treated. Typically, rotting wood may be seen near bay windows and outside doors. Changing out this trim comes with a hefty price tag and a lot of hassle, and even trained specialists often have trouble repairing it. The most effective course of action is to take preventative measures to ensure that it does not rot in the first place, which includes maintaining it, and making sure it gets caulked and painted regularly.
Clean the Gutters
In the fall, after the leaves have fallen to the ground, it is time to clear out the gutters. If your gutters are clogged, they will overflow, and if they overflow, the water will pour down the side of your house, which will speed up the process of the outside of your property deteriorating. It may also lead to the degradation of your foundation, water intrusion in the basement, and sinking beneath your concrete porches and pathways, which produces a wide variety of difficulties. These issues can be avoided by ensuring that your foundation is properly waterproofed, and you must power wash your gutters and pathways to get rid of any gunk. Gutter cleaning is paramount!
Make Sure to Check Your Drainage
Check to see that the soil that surrounds your foundation has not settled since this might create spots where water could pool up at your structure. Just add soil to any low areas you discover. Then inspect the downspouts on all of your rain gutters around the house. Ensure that water is being removed from the vicinity of the house. If it’s required, install downspout extenders. During the winter, when the soil surrounding a building’s foundation is saturated and repeatedly freezes and thaws, it may cause serious issues.
Don’t Let Your Attic Turn into a Home for Pests
Your attic is the ideal place for animals like squirrels and birds to spend the winter since the weather is likely to become chilly. These creatures are capable of causing a great deal of property damage and maybe even some health issues. Make sure that your trees are pruned a safe distance away from the home and check to see that the gable vents on your roof are not damaged. Because you never know what may be lurking behind your gable vent, you should probably install a screen there just in case. In addition, go all the way around your house and inspect the soffit and fascia. Check to see that there are no gaps or openings that might enable birds to enter.
Masonry and Other Hard Surfaces Need to Be Sealed
Make sure to cover your concrete patio, driveway, and pathways if you have these structures in your yard. Furthermore, all of the flat outside concrete surfaces in your home get periodic applications of a concrete sealer. Cracks will appear in the concrete flatwork of any concrete structure over time. To minimize the amount of cracking in your concrete, skilled masons will carefully put control joints throughout the material. Be sure to check your concrete for cracks and patch them in before you seal it to prevent water from seeping in and freezing during the winter. Your pricey concrete construction should be able to withstand the test of time if you do this.
Contact
In the greater Washington region, several events are largely foreseeable regardless of the winter weather event that occurs. Keeping your property in excellent form during the winter and after may be easier with the aid of the tips that have been discussed above.
Ready to schedule a consultation? If so, contact us at Imperial Power Washing today. Our family owned and operated business has been providing the Pacific Northwest with getting their houses ready for winter for more than 20 years.
