When fall approaches, it is time to get your home or business ready for the winter. With snow, sleet, and harsh weather on the horizon, your property needs to be able to stand up against all of them. Any structure can be a cozy place in the cold as long as the right preparations have been made. Here are some pointers on how you can make your property a fortress against the dropping temperature:
Clean the Gutters and Downspouts
The gutters at the side of your roof are great at ensuring that your home or building doesn’t suffer from water damage during the rainy days. The problem is that with fall approaching, leaves and other debris can get into the gutters. You should clean them before the first snowflakes start appearing. This is because dirty gutters can have ice dams in them.
The result is damage to your structure as the melting snow seeps down the siding. Installing a leaf guard over the gutters can help prevent this, but you still need to inspect them to keep them clean.
Pay Attention to Your Roof
Your roof can be vulnerable this coming winter. A single cracked shingle or leak can cause big problems. That is why it is a good idea to hire residential or commercial roofing contractors to inspect every inch of your roof and fix the damaged shingles. They can also do something about broken or loose gutters.
Add Some Insulation
Insulating the wall of your house is a great idea, though you should probably do this earlier than fall. Proper insulation slows down the heat transfer between the inside of your building and the outdoors. This makes it great for both keeping warm in winter months and keeping cool in summer months.
Besides the walls, you need to pay attention to the insulation in your attic. Heat escapes upward and if there is no insulation in your attic floors, the heat will go that way. Besides insulation, caulking the holes can ensure that you reduce the amount of heat escaping.
Install Storm Windows and Doors
Your windows and doors are among the main ways heat can escape your home or building. They are also the best ways the cold can seep in. Installing storm doors and windows can add a layer of protection against cold weather. Storm doors are permanent installation but storm windows can be taken down when spring comes.
Protect Your Water Pipes
Water is very vulnerable to the cold. They can also damage your property severely when they freeze. You do not want burst water pipes in the middle of winter. That is why you should take steps to insulate them. This can involve simple rubber sleeves or a foam wrap. They are affordable and worth the investment.
Winter can be harsh and you need to be ready for it. Having a house or building that can shelter you from the cold is a big part of that preparation. The tips above should help make your structure the ideal shelter during the cold months.
