While we still have a few more weeks of winter, spring is just around the corner and we are more than ready! Central Oregon winters can be brutal, and our homes can face the rough impacts of this weather. Sure, there are ways to help prevent potential damage, but we all know how unpredictable the winter season can be around here, which can often leave our homes in need of some unwanted touch-ups.
Here are a few ways that winter can damage your home:
Snow and ice impact on your roof: Cold temperatures, ice, and wind can cause significant damage to your roof. Keep an eye out for loose shingles and ice dams that may build up over winter.
Ice strain on your gutters: As the wind picks up, your gutters become full of debris that can get stuck and freeze, causing the gutters to clog up. Make sure to clear out your gutters frequently or have a de-icing agent on hand when a storm strikes. This is not a project that you would want to procrastiante!
Cold weather and cracked caulk: The fluctuating temperatures can cause the caulk around your windows to crack, which makes it difficult to keep heat in your home. Avoid losing heat by checking your home regularly for cracks or damage. There’s nothing worse than paying for heat that is constantly escaping your home!
Driveway damage: Did you know that constantly scraping and shoveling your driveway can cause wear and tear over time? Use a rubber-bladed shovel to avoid long-term damage and avoid de-icing chemicals that can wear away concrete.
Pipes, plumbing, and freezing temps: Frozen or bursting pipes can be a result of freezing temperatures. Make sure your pipes are properly insulated or keep a slow flow of water from your faucet to avoid additional issues.
Rotting wood: Moisture can cause the wood in your home to rot, mold, or become discolored. Cover wood decks or structures with a tarp and keep an eye on window sills for any condensation build up.
Falling trees or tree limbs: Pruning trees and removing any cracked limbs before the winter season can help you steer clear of any potential damage caused by snapped or broken trees. Protect your roof, siding, and any power lines by trimming back your yard and garden.
As a homeowner, you want to be sure that you are taking extra special care of your property. It’s important to keep an eye on these potential problems throughout the winter season in order to avoid irreparable damage to your space come spring! Sometimes though, winter damage is still inevitable. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to prepare and fix up your home as the weather warms up. Check out the following projects to help you prepare your home for the upcoming spring season:
Inspect your storage spaces: Post-winter moisture is not something to ignore. Check on these (often overlooked) spaces for any mold or remaining moisture from the temperature fluctuations. Don’t wait until it’s too late!
Check window screens for wear and tear: Look for holes or cracks that may have developed over winter. Those stubborn bugs will find a way to get in if you let them! Make sure you patch up any holes as well as clean screens and replace them when needed.
Change heating and cooling filters: Prep your home for the upcoming season with fresher air. As you use your heater more in the winter, dust, and dirt accumulates. Examine your filters and be sure to replace any filters that look dirty or haven’t been updated in a while.
Clean gutters and window wells: As mentioned before, your gutters will most likely be filled with debris following the winter months. Spring is the perfect time to clean them out and check for any damage from ice or snow.
Check sprinkler systems: Make sure your sprinklers are good to go come summer. Turn them on and look for any abnormal spraying or changes to the system.
Inspect your roof: Look for missing shingles, damaged areas, or growing moss. You’ll know if something looks a little bit off!
Take a look at existing outdoor structures: Railings, steps, decks, fences, windows, and any other outdoor structures should be inspected regularly. By now, you’ve realized how destructive winter can be, so don’t neglect these elements of your home.
Check for standing water: As ice and snow melt, you may start noticing standing water in various areas surrounding your home. Standing water could serve as a breeding ground for pesty bugs. Come summer, your friends and family will thank you for removing leftover standing water.
Trim trees and clean flower beds: Spring is a great time to plan out your garden, clean up flower beds, and remove fallen leaves and debris from your yard. Trees and large bushes can also be maintained and prepped for the warmer months.
Aerate your lawn: Ice and snow can compact your lawn, leaving it in need of some extra care. Spring is a fantastic time to loosen up dense land and get your lawn looking its best before summertime.
Pressure wash your driveway, pathways, and deck: Inspect concrete, asphalt, and pavers for cracks and damage. Make repairs as needed and get your hardscape cleaned up by power washing. You can even power-wash your outdoor furniture while you’re at it!
As you can see, home maintenance is so important this time of year! In addition to our other services, we specialize in annual home maintenance, property management maintenance, and commercial and industrial maintenance. Give us a call if you have any questions regarding the upkeep of your space.
Outside of home maintenance, we have a variety of services to knock out your home improvement projects. We are experts in renovations, additions, ADUs, bathrooms, kitchens, window and door installation, siding, custom projects, tiny homes, concrete, painting interior and exterior, roofing, ADA renovations, fencing, decks, porches, flooring, stairs, handrails, cabinet installation and more.
Spring is the perfect time to get going on this year’s projects! Our team has multiple decades of knowledge and hands-on experience that we put to work for our valued clients to help make their dreams a reality. There is no job too large or too small. In addition, we find it very important to have long-term relationships with our clients, providing exceptional services they can count on year after year.
Add value to your home…and your life with Total Home Solutions!
Call our office at 541-647-0213, email us at info@mytotalhomesolutions.com, or submit your information at mytotalhomesolutions.com/contact.