Cold weather brings the holidays and family gatherings—and the occasional severe winter storm.
As we’re prepping for the upcoming colder weather, you’ll no doubt want to winterize your home before things start to freeze. But during this process, you might come across a few things that you’ll need to completely replace.
As diligent as we might be about home maintenance, you could find that some of your exterior elements aren’t effective anymore. Instead of waiting for warmer weather to come around, you might want to think about completely replacing these items before they become a large, more costly, issue.
While it’s often easier to replace your windows during warmer seasons, you might come across damage to your home that needs immediate attention.
You might notice your utility bills going up or some rooms start feeling drafty. Re-caulking your windows can help with insulating your home, but if your windows are damaged or deteriorated, replacing them might be more cost-effective. Inspect your windows, inside and out, to see if they need a full replacement:
After you’ve inspected your windows inside and out, you might find that you need to replace them sooner rather than later.
While it’s not enjoyable to replace windows during colder months, there are a few things you can do to make things go smoothly.
We often overlook the amount of wear and tear on our home’s doors, but they can sustain a considerable amount of damage. Inspect your exterior doors for the following issues to determine when they’ll need to be replaced.
Any peeling paint or cracked wood in the door allows moisture to penetrate the wood. This can cause wood rot, which leads to structural issues with the door frame and often gets worse over time. If you find damage or wood rot, it’s time to replace your door.
If your exterior doors have any noticeable dents or scratches, you can usually add a fresh coat of paint to cover unsightly damage. If you’re in the process of selling your home, you might consider replacing the doors now.
If you’re able to see light coming in around the door frame, that means other things can get inside, like insects, cold winter drafts or rain. You should consider replacing the door if there are significant gaps or openings around the frame.
Can you open and close the door smoothly? If the door is catching or it’s not hanging properly on its hinges, you’ll need to replace the door.
Replacing your doors adds improved security to your home, can help you save on utility bills and is a great step towards added curb appeal.
When you inspect your home for any needed maintenance or repair, you’ll also want to take note of how your siding looks.
Depending on the extent of the damage you find, it may be time to replace your siding. Here’s what to look for:
There are a few types of siding to choose from, so let’s take a look at each of their benefits
Wood siding is a traditional choice. If cared for properly, wood can last many years, but the maintenance requirements for wood are higher than most other siding types, and it’s prone to insect and weather damage.
Vinyl siding is another popular choice, usually because vinyl is often the cheapest option. It’s also quite durable: Vinyl is fairly low-maintenance, it’s water resistant and doesn’t need repainting as wood does.
Fiber cement siding is another low maintenance option and offers a bit more durability than wood. Fiber cement is made from a mixture of cement, wood pulp and sand or ash.
The benefits of steel siding are numerous, but here’s a quick list of why homeowners choose it for their exterior:
Your gutters help keep water from getting inside your home, which prevents all sorts of issues from cropping up when the weather gets colder.
You’ll want to keep your gutters free from debris and leaves year-round, but you’ll also want to check them regularly to ensure they’re not so worn down that they need to be replaced.
Look for any cracks or leaks along your gutters. Smaller cracks are relatively easy to repair, but if you find cracks that are large enough to cause leaks, it’s time to install new gutters. You’ll also need to look around the gutter seams, where the individual sections meet. If there are any leaks or separations in the seam that can’t be mended, you should look into getting new gutters. Ensuring your gutters are clean and well-maintained means your home will be able to withstand upcoming winter storms and potential damage. You can hire a contractor to handle the installation of your rainware and gutters, but DIYers can also tackle the job.
Regular maintenance will keep your home’s exterior elements performing longer, but some materials aren’t quite as durable as others. Head into the winter season knowing your home can stand up to whatever the cold weather brings.
Choosing low-maintenance, high-quality materials like steel siding ensures you don’t have to replace any of these exterior elements as often. Ensure your home is sufficiently protected from the cold this year. Get even more tips on preparing for severe weather and the winter season here.