Weatherproofing Your Home
Warmer weather can offer up some great opportunities that you may not be able to take advantage of in fall or winter months. Perhaps one of the more important things you can do while it’s sunny is weatherproofing your home. Making sure your house is resilient to the elements can decrease energy costs, bolster your homes physical condition, and help you feel a little more at peace when the weather isn’t as nice. Check out some of our top tips below for weatherproofing your house!
Windows and Doors
First and foremost, you should make sure that your house is airtight. To do this, start by checking all of your windows and doors to see if you’re losing air, either heated or cooled. As a general rule, you should seal gaps that are larger than ⅛ inch. For your windows, you can use caulk to seal the sides and press-on adhesive for the bottoms. The bottoms of exterior-facing doors should also be sealed by using either weather stripping or door sweeps to prevent any air leaks.
Insulation
After taking care of your doors and windows, the next areas you should weatherproof should be your attic and/or basement. Be on the lookout for any holes or cracks that allow outside air into your house. If you do find any, fill them in before looking at your insulation. After you’ve filled in any holes, make sure to check the insulation in both areas and replace any sections that look deteriorated.
Roof Check
The condition of your roof is incredibly important to consider when weatherproofing your home. Not only can a leaky roof let in outside air increasing your energy bill, it can also lead to water damage if left untreated. If you’re brave enough, you can carefully get up on your roof and check for any holes in your roof or chimney. Make sure to fill in holes and get any damaged roof tiles replaced to better insulate your house.
Gutter Clutter
While you’re working on the outside of your home, check your gutters and clean them if they’re packed with leaves and debris. Clogged gutters often have standing water, which can expand while freezing and cause damage not only to the gutters themselves but also to your roof. Other than ice buildup, an excess of standing water in your gutters is never good, as it could turn into a mold problem. Unpacking those gutters and installing grates are good precautionary measures to take.
Paint Job
Lastly, although this one may sound like it has no functional benefits, check the condition of your exterior paint. It’s easy to think that paint is purely for aesthetic purposes only, but a good coat (or two) of exterior paint can help protect the raw materials of your house. Before painting, start by scraping away any old or chipping paint, then follow that with pressure washing. Once you’ve got a clean surface, apply quality paint.
It’s a good idea to take care of your house when you don’t think you’ll need to, as it’s better to be prepared for rougher weather than to wish you had. Start weather proofing inside and move your way out to make sure that everything is properly weatherproofed.