As winter digs its claws into us for another year, we prepare for everything it’s about to bring to our lives. Mainly, this means coping with colder temperatures and figuring out how to stay warm. However, winter also brings a lot of bad weather – this can include snowstorms, hailstorms, lots of rain, and hurricanes.
As a result, these are the months where a lot of homeowners see serious structural damage to their properties. Often, this can be avoided by checking different elements of the structure to be sure you’re well-equipped to handle the upcoming bad weather. Here are three of the main things you need to check, ensuring they’re up to scratch:
Windows
Start by checking the health of your windows. This is so critical throughout winter as bad windows can lack insulation, making your home really cold. Not only that, but they lack the strength and structural integrity to stand up to harsh weather conditions. The heavy impact of snow, hail or wind can break your windows and lead to extensive property damage. So, look to see how strong and sound yours currently are, and if they need to be upgraded. It’s recommended that all homes have impact windows that have been tested to withstand the worst weather conditions. Most newish homes will have them, but if your property is decades-old you may need an upgrade, just in case.
Roofing
Likewise, your roofing will take a battering throughout the winter, so it needs to be in excellent condition. Check for any loose tiles or signs of wear and tear all over your roof. You may find that there are cracks or holes in the roof that can be a huge problem in winter. Again, your roof needs to insulate your home – but it also has to stop rain or snow from seeping in and causing water damage. Plus, weak roofs will easily have the tiles blown away by strong gusts of wind. Call a roofing expert to survey your roof and see the state it’s in. It could be perfect, it could need some minor repairs, or it could require a full roof replacement.
Walls/Siding
Outside your home, look at the walls and siding. Inspect them for any major cracks that could present problems. Small hairline cracks in walls are normal, but deep, jagged, big ones aren’t. They are a problem as they can show your home’s structure is weakening. It could also indicate a problem with the foundations. While nothing is likely to happen in regular weather conditions, it could be a major issue if there’s a blizzard or hurricane this winter. So, getting any cracks repaired and foundations fixed up will help your home withstand everything that’s thrown at it over the coming weeks and months.
Ironically, you can check all of these elements, spend a lot of money fixing your home, only for the weather to be mild. But, it’s better to do this than to avoid it and then deal with bad weather. At the very least, you’re improving your home, adding value to it, and ensuring it lasts for longer.
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