When we think of preparing the home for the winter, we typically think of how to winter-proof the interior and stay nice, warm, and safe.
Although the cold weather and chilly evenings might make you a lot more likely to want to spend all your time wrapped up indoors, you shouldn’t quite abandon your exterior yet, either. There are a few chores that still need to be done, not to mention issues that can become a lot more troublesome if they’re given time to really settle in.
As such, here are a few winter care tips to make sure that you’re still showing the exterior some love.
Clear Out Those Gutters
Autumn tends to shake a lot of organic debris loose, including leaves and twigs. What’s more, moss can also grow in even the more unexpected places. This can include your gutters, which can become blocked over time. Blocked gutters are a leading cause of winter water damage to homes, as the water trapped in them can freeze and expand, cracking guttering and any parts of the home that it has seeped into.
Be sure to clean your gutters as early in the winter as you can, but preferably after the leaves have stopped falling. Check for any leaks or sagging brackets while you’re up there, as these small repairs can save you from some expensive damage, too.
Check The Roof, Too
The roof is the main defence of your home, safeguarding it against the harsh weather of winter, so be sure to inspect it now before the cold really sets in.
Whether you do it yourself or with the help of a roofing professional, keep an eye out for cracked, loose, or missing tiles that could let in the rain or water from snow melting. Otherwise, this can lead to leaks inside that cause the spread of damp through our ceilings and damage to your insulation.
The flashing around the chimneys and any vents tends to be the most common weak points, so pay extra close attention to these, and be sure to check from inside the attic to be totally thorough, too.
Make Snow A Breeze To Deal With
If you’re in one of the parts of the country that gets snow frequently, or even just short periods of heavy snowfall, keeping your driveways, pavements, and patios clear is important. Otherwise, slipping hazards can start to pop up all over the place.
Rather than spending the hours manually shovelling snow, however, you might want to equip yourself with an electric snow blower that’s able to make the job a lot faster, safer, and less physically demanding. This can help you prevent ice buildup that is not only a slipping hazard but can damage your concrete and tarmac, too.
Trim Your Trees And Bushes
Some parts of the country are a lot more prone to winter storms, which can cause serious damage if they’re able to pick up and throw any heavy debris.
The biggest risk comes from overgrown trees and bushes. Any hanging branches can snap under strong winds and heavy snow. This makes them not only a hazard of falling on top of people, cars, and belongings beneath, but it can also damage the roof and windows on days of especially strong winds.
Be especially sure to cut back any branches that hang over the home, close to power lines, or over the driveway. For large or more mature trees, hiring an arborist can ensure they’re pruned safely without harm and that any dead or diseased wood is handled well.
Put Away Your Garden Furniture
Unless you have a very well-shaded, heated, and lit outdoor hangout spot, you’re not very likely to make much use of your garden furniture in the winter.
On the other hand, it can experience a lot more wear due to the damp and cold. Metal parts are especially vulnerable to moisture, frost, and wind, while wood can weaken due to excess moisture, and fabrics can fade. As such, clean and dry your furniture before storing it in a shed or garage to protect it from the worst of the weather.
If you have any items that are too large to move, consider buying some weatherproof covers that can be snugly secured over and around them.
Tackle Those Surfaces With A Power Washer
Any outdoor surfaces, especially smooth ones, like patios, driveways, and your decking, can become major slipping hazards when the weather gets wetter and colder.
Algae, moss, and grime can build up, especially in autumn and winter, which, in turn, can make these surfaces dangerous to walk on. With the help of a power washer, you can give these surfaces the deep clean they need, restoring their grip and preventing accidents. Make sure that you focus on high-traffic areas first, and consider applying a sealant or anti-slip treatment, especially to any wooden walking areas, to reduce the problem in the future.
Regular power washing before and during winter helps maintain a clean, safe exterior while enhancing your property’s appearance.
Protecting Your Pipes, Taps, And Outdoor Fixtures
Any outdoor plumbing can be at a much increased risk when the temperatures start to reach freezing point. Any exposed pipes, taps, or irrigation systems can become a lot more vulnerable to bursting when the water inside them turns into ice.
Prevent costly repairs by draining your outdoor pipes completely, and shut off the water supply to external plumbing if possible. You can also use insulated tap covers or foam pipe lagging to give them a little increased protection against the cold.
These simple precautions can help you avoid the expensive plumbing repairs that might affect your home down the line, especially if a bad cold snap is headed your way.
The tips above not only maintain the aesthetic of the exterior, but they also make it a lot safer, and also prepare it so that it’s also easier to take care of it when spring starts to arrive, too. A little work now can stop you from having to do a lot later.
