The beauty of winter gives us an excuse to head south for some sun, take on winter sports, or simply curl up in a warm cozy ball binge-watching a Netflix series. Whatever beautiful ideas winter brings to you, we often lose sight of the damages it could cause to our home if we’re not prepared before and after winter. The spring thaw is a perfect opportunity to inspect your home and investigate any potential issues. Getting to potential issues early could save you lots of money and time in the long run. The harsh winter weather is notorious for causing damages to homes, so you should consider putting together a checklist for an inspection and prepare for some repairs. Here are a few things you should add to your home inspections checklist as winter concludes.
Roof
- When spring starts, you should take a look at your roof. Look for broken shingles, cracks or anything that looks like it could cause trouble. It is common to see shingles popped up because nails have sprung up, which can lead to water damage. You should get those checked out as soon as possible. If you have a chimney, take a look at the bricks and molding around it. If you have eaves troughs, make sure they are clean, with no debris inside and able to properly drain water. Also make sure the area around the gutter downspout is clear.
Windows
- Take a look at your windows. Do they have fog around them? Leaky windows will let cold air in during the winter, and trap the hot air in during the summer. Be sure to check that all the caulking and seals around the windows are still intact.
Foundation
- Take a quick walk around your house. Ensure there are no cracks in the concrete foundation, and if you see any, call a foundation specialist to fix them. Ordinary caulking will not do the job, and it requires a specialist to fix. They employ a two part epoxy injection system that bonds cracks via a chemical reaction.
Interior cleaning
- Give your house a top to bottom cleaning. After the winter months, you may find salt, dirt or moisture around the house. The humidity in the air creates an environment that is favorable to mold and mildew forming, and likely difficult to find if you’re not looking for signs of potential issues. Finding the most vulnerable areas of your home will depend on the amount of clutter you have – So perhaps consider a de-clutter project. A well organized home is healthy for the mind and a great way to search for potential issues. Cluttered areas of your home are obviously areas that have been ignored and a perfect area for potential issues to grow and become big problems.