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Roof & Home Maintenance: 5 Ways to Prepare for Winter

Roof & Home Maintenance: 5 Ways to Prepare for Winter

A house is a sturdy structure that is made to withstand the harsh outdoor elements and protect the whole household from the inevitable impact of the cold season. However, there are a few key steps to take to prepare your home for the winter. Doing so maintains your property’s structural integrity and helps you and your family get by until the chilly weather passes.

If you don’t know what to do, here are five maintenance tips in setting your home and roof ready for the winter:

1. INSPECT FOR WORN OUT, LOOSE, OR MISSING SHINGLES

As early as now, it’s best to check your roofing system and be on the lookout for worn out, loose, or missing shingles. If these are left unattended for long periods, they can easily and quickly escalate into extensive damages, especially during winter. What started as a few missing or displaced shingles turns out to be a roof deterioration that also impacts the house ceilings, sidings, floorings, and even the foundation. When you notice some shingle problems, even if they are minor, be sure to get them fixed by a roofing service immediately.

2. CLEAN AND CLEAR OUT THE GUTTERS

It’s best to have your gutters clean during late summer or early fall to get rid of any buildup. As you may be aware, it’s easy for these fixtures to accumulate leaves, twigs, and other debris. When left unchecked, insects, birds, and other pests are also seen nesting on them. When heavy rain or storm comes, they get stuck with rainwater that eventually leads to water leaks and damages your property. Be sure to have your gutters completely cleaned and repaired to prevent costly repairs or replacements.

3. FIX ANY DAMAGED SIDING

It’s crucial to inspect your home’s sidings as early as fall. If you see some areas with wear and tear, get them repaired as soon as possible. Keep in mind that the sidings serve as outer covering that protects your home from outdoor elements, such as rain, snow, hail or ice. If the damages aren’t fixed, it’s easy for them to further deteriorate during winter, leaving your house structure and its curb appeal compromised and prone to other issues.

4. INSPECT DOORS AND WINDOWS

Inspecting your home doors and windows before winter is imperative to find any open cracks. If left unchecked, it’s easy for drafts and pests to get into your home during the cold season. Drafts also leave the household uncomfortable during winter and compel your heating system to work harder. Likewise, pests end up taking space in your humble abode to get by during the cold season. If there are some problems with your doors and windows, get them either repaired or replaced right away.

5. PREPARE YOUR CHIMNEY AND FIREPLACE

To set your home ready for the winter, the best way to do this is to prepare your chimney and fireplace. The chances are that you need them to work efficiently during the cold season. Be sure to thoroughly clean them and hire professionals for their inspections. Should there be some problems, have them fixed as soon as possible!

CONCLUSION

At this point, you now know how to prepare your home and roof for the winter with our valuable maintenance tips. As discussed above, be sure to inspect for worn out, loose, or missing shingles, clean and clear out the gutters, fix any damaged siding, inspect doors and windows, and prepare your chimney and fireplace.

If all these tips are quite overwhelming to handle by yourself, it’s best to hire professional services for home and roof inspection, repair, and maintenance. Doing so will make a huge difference in setting your home ready for the winter!

Are you looking to get your home ready for the winter? We’ve got you covered with our general contractors! As a leading residential roofing company in Ottawa, we’ve been providing repair and maintenance services in the surrounding areas for the last 30 years. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!

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