Fall Home Maintenance

Oh, how I love fall!  I love how the mornings are dark and cool and the evenings brisk enough for a sweater.  I love the subtle change in color on the tips or the trees.  Autumn.  Time for football, tailgating, pumpkins, Halloween fun and oh yes,  … home maintenance.  I have to be honest, home maintenance is not on the top of my autumn fun list, but it is a necessity.  Often, however, it hard to get a start on it and stay ahead of the season.  So, here is a list to help outline the best place to start your fall home maintenance.  There is also a handy checklist on Instagram and Facebook.  Check them out, like us, and follow for more tips you and your home.

 

Foundation & Masonry

• Check chimneys, deteriorated chimney caps, loose and missing mortar.

Roofs

• Check for damaged, loose or missing shingles, blisters
• Check for leaking, misaligned or damaged gutters, downspouts (leaders), hangers (straps), gutter guards and strainers
• Cut back tree limbs growing close to or touching roof
• Check flashing around roof stacks, vents, skylights and chimneys as sources of leakage
• Check vents, louvers, and chimneys for birds’ nests, squirrels, and insects

Exterior Walls

• Cut back and trim shrubs away from exterior wall

Doors & Windows

• Check caulking for decay around doors, windows, corner boards and joints.  Recaulk as needed.
• Check glazing putty around windows
• Check weather-stripping

Plumbing

• Check faucets, hose bibs, and valves for leakage

Interior

• Keep garage doors closed to conserve energy and insulate exposed water lines in cold climates