Let’s not move so fast! Fall has only just begun, and you want me to think about winter? For many, fall is just the prelude to winter, like spring is the introduction to summer. However, autumn is a good time to make sure your home is winter-ready. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of snow damage. So, let’s review a brief list of actions you can take to examine your home for potential problems while keeping in mind that Matthew Herzog at Stoney Creek Contracting can help with repairs and remodeling.
- Check your gutters! They are responsible for diverting rainwater from your house’s walls and foundation. They can get clogged with leaves, pine needles, twigs, and who-knows-what. When that happens, water can pour onto the ground and seep into the foundation. In winter, ice can back up into your roof shingles. Gutter guards are generally considered ineffective and can cost more than several cleanings. You also don’t want rusty and broken gutters.
- Would you wear winter clothes that have holes in them? Neither should your house. You can use a small screwdriver to carefully poke around caulking and weatherstripping along windows, doors, decks, outlets, cable entry points, etc. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that leaks can account for 10% of your heating expenses. You can detect faulty weatherstripping by closing a door or window on a piece of paper, which should be difficult to remove, or by (carefully!) holding a lit candle or match around the frame. If the flame flickers anywhere, that’s a leak.
- Leaky roofs mean leaky wallets. Roof problems can cause wind, rain, and ice damage. Take a look at your roof, using binoculars if you can, and see if any shingles are missing, bent, or cracked. If you’ve inspected your gutters and found granules of material, they are probably coming from deteriorating shingles. How does the flashing around chimneys and vents look? Water and ice are clever enough to find their way into any available space.
- Drain pipes leading to outside faucets, and seal or cover the faucets to keep them from freezing. Remember, freezing water expands, but pipes do not! A burst pipe can cause severe damage to your home and your bank account.
- Take a walk around your property, only this time, don’t just admire the garden — look for cracks, broken pieces, and uneven spots on your walk, steps, porch, and driveway. Again, rain and snow will find their way in there, and they don’t come as friends. Expanding ice can break pieces apart and even push down walls.
If you find anything out of order or would like an expert evaluation of your home, please call Stoney Creek Contracting at 610-927-7313.
With 20 years of experience in construction and remodeling projects, you can have the confidence that Stoney Creek Contracting will get the job done. We do projects large and small, from repairs and installations to complete house remodels.
We at Stoney Creek Contracting pride ourselves in quality residential remodeling projects and construction. Licensed and insured, we go the extra mile to maintain a clean work area and provide courteous service. Call us at 610-927-7313 for your free estimate for a basement, kitchen, bathroom, or flooring project. We also do windows, siding, and other exterior projects. You can also submit a contact request here.