That Time for Honey-Do’s
Oct 17, 2022
The summer heat has finally broken, and the cooler temperatures make it enjoyable to spend time outside once again. Before winter hits, it’s important to get your house ready for seasonal changes to prevent spending time and money on repairs and projects that could have been easily avoided.
Listed below is a home maintenance checklist that should, at most, take one weekend to complete. By handling these tasks now, you can relax and enjoy the fall weather for the rest of the season.
Windows
Go ahead and finish any window projects such as reglazing or painting before the temperature drops below 55 degrees in the daytime, since glazing putty and paint do not cure below that temperature. Glazed windows can reduce your utility bills by keeping the heat in your home from escaping through the windows, and resealing seams will have the same effect. Installing storm windows will also help to protect your existing windows from damage caused by long-term exposure to rain, snow, and fluctuating temperatures. Lastly, consider cleaning your windows as well so you can enjoy the fall foliage and not be stuck with dirty windows all winter. After all, nobody wants to hose down windows when the temperatures drop below freezing.
Gutters and Roof
Clogged gutters give rainwater and melted snow nowhere to run. When water continues to flood over, it can leave a rotten or leaky roof in its wake. Once the majority of leaves have fallen from the trees surrounding your home, remove the debris and use a garden hose to flush out the gutters and downspouts to clear out any remaining leaves and expose any leaks. Also, before you clean the gutters, blow or sweep the leaves off of your roof that have become trapped or compacted. Consider having a professional conduct a pre-winter roof inspection and invest in any recommended repairs. Remember, small problems in the fall can turn into huge problems in the winter, so it’s best to start the season with a strong, sturdy roof.
Porch
As mentioned above, paint does not cure easily in temperatures below 55 degrees, so do not miss your window of opportunity. Although it’s a great time to touch up any chips in the paint around your home, the biggest thing to consider is painting your wood porch and steps. These surfaces will be exposed to rain, snow, and ice this winter and need to be well-protected from these elements since water is no friend to wood. Simply applying a fresh coat of paint will seal off the wood and keep these endangered surfaces safe until spring.
Lawn
Your lawn still needs attention, even when the growing season begins to wind down. Aerate your soil in the fall to relieve compaction caused by summer foot traffic and create extra pore space to allow air, nutrients, and water to penetrate. After you aerate, consider overseeding and fertilizing. By adding new grass seed to your lawn during the fall, you can thicken up bare patches and damaged areas before the grass goes into dormancy. Also, as you finish up your yard work, inspect the trees surrounding your home and cut down any overhanging branches that may break under the weight of ice and damage your roof.
Your local Co-op has many of the tools you need for your fall home improvement projects, so don’t hesitate to stop by!
For more content like this, check out the latest issue of The Cooperator.
Listed below is a home maintenance checklist that should, at most, take one weekend to complete. By handling these tasks now, you can relax and enjoy the fall weather for the rest of the season.
Windows
Go ahead and finish any window projects such as reglazing or painting before the temperature drops below 55 degrees in the daytime, since glazing putty and paint do not cure below that temperature. Glazed windows can reduce your utility bills by keeping the heat in your home from escaping through the windows, and resealing seams will have the same effect. Installing storm windows will also help to protect your existing windows from damage caused by long-term exposure to rain, snow, and fluctuating temperatures. Lastly, consider cleaning your windows as well so you can enjoy the fall foliage and not be stuck with dirty windows all winter. After all, nobody wants to hose down windows when the temperatures drop below freezing.
Gutters and Roof
Clogged gutters give rainwater and melted snow nowhere to run. When water continues to flood over, it can leave a rotten or leaky roof in its wake. Once the majority of leaves have fallen from the trees surrounding your home, remove the debris and use a garden hose to flush out the gutters and downspouts to clear out any remaining leaves and expose any leaks. Also, before you clean the gutters, blow or sweep the leaves off of your roof that have become trapped or compacted. Consider having a professional conduct a pre-winter roof inspection and invest in any recommended repairs. Remember, small problems in the fall can turn into huge problems in the winter, so it’s best to start the season with a strong, sturdy roof.
Porch
As mentioned above, paint does not cure easily in temperatures below 55 degrees, so do not miss your window of opportunity. Although it’s a great time to touch up any chips in the paint around your home, the biggest thing to consider is painting your wood porch and steps. These surfaces will be exposed to rain, snow, and ice this winter and need to be well-protected from these elements since water is no friend to wood. Simply applying a fresh coat of paint will seal off the wood and keep these endangered surfaces safe until spring.
Lawn
Your lawn still needs attention, even when the growing season begins to wind down. Aerate your soil in the fall to relieve compaction caused by summer foot traffic and create extra pore space to allow air, nutrients, and water to penetrate. After you aerate, consider overseeding and fertilizing. By adding new grass seed to your lawn during the fall, you can thicken up bare patches and damaged areas before the grass goes into dormancy. Also, as you finish up your yard work, inspect the trees surrounding your home and cut down any overhanging branches that may break under the weight of ice and damage your roof.
Your local Co-op has many of the tools you need for your fall home improvement projects, so don’t hesitate to stop by!
For more content like this, check out the latest issue of The Cooperator.