Fall is Here!

With cooler weather right around the corner, now’s the time to make sure your home is ready for fall. Read more below!

Fall Home Maintenance 

Leaves aren’t the only things that fall in autumn, as days grow shorter and cold winter nights begin to set in. While you may prefer the lower temperatures, less blinding sunlight, and the crunch of leaves beneath your feet, the colder temperatures, snowy weather, and shorter days of winter make it difficult to perform outdoor home maintenance. So it is best to check for needed repairs around your home now and have a qualified repairman, such as those at BACK Construction, perform the repairs before it is too late or more difficult.

Many of the home maintenance tasks described below could possibly be performed by the average homeowner, but many are also quite dangerous, so it would be best to seek professional help. Tasks that need to be performed and repaired, if needed, include:

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• Gutters and Downspouts: Checking your gutters and downspouts for leaves or other debris is critical to do before weighty snow falls on your roof and melts with nowhere to properly runoff. Any debris should be removed by you or a professional, although anytime you are standing atop a ladder, there is some level of danger of injury. Even if you don’t opt to have a professional safely clean your gutters, you may consider having one install gutter guards, as they keep gutters and downspouts form clogging up so easily.

• Probe Your Wood Trim: Using a screwdriver, probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings, and decks, looking for holes as you go. If you find holes, the wood either needs to be filled with caulk or replaced entirely. A professional will know what can be filled and what needs replaced.

• Paint: The low humidity levels and cooler temperatures of fall are a perfect environment for home exterior painting. If you have been thinking about painting the outside of your home, now is the perfect time to pull the trigger.

• Roofing: Roof inspection should be performed each fall and, like checking gutters, can be a dangerous task. Curled, buckling, cracking, or otherwise damaged shingles need to be replaced. If the majority of shingles are in some way damaged, you should have the whole roof replaced. Aside from shingles, check flashings around skylights, pipes, chimneys, and vents for leaks or gaps, as melting snow and ice will seep into your home through such gaps.

• Pipes: Before cold weather sets in, you should shut off the valves to your exterior, and run the water until the pipes are empty, to keep them from freezing and bursting. For additional security, exterior pipes can be wrapped with heating tape, to prevent freezing.

• Fireplaces and Chimneys: Have your fireplace and chimney professionally inspected, cleaned, and, if needed, repaired. Improperly cleaned or functioning fireplaces and chimneys can lead to fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Heating: Filters in furnaces or heating or heating systems need to be cleaned and replaced. Like fireplaces and chimneys, heaters and furnaces need to be inspected and repaired by a professional, as they can induce carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Attic Insulation: Insulation in the attic needs to be inspected and replaced, so heat will stay in your home and cut down on energy bills. This is a job best performed by a professional, as any misstep between joists can send you hurtling through your ceiling underfoot.

• Walkways, Sidings, and Foundation: Inspect your exterior walkways, sidings, and foundation for cracks or other damage, and contact a professional for repair, as it will only worsen over the winter months.

• Safety First: Fall is a risky time for fires, as there is little humidity and dry leaves are in abundance. Likewise, due to the use of heaters and fireplaces, carbon monoxide poisoning is another dangerous risk homeowners face. The best way to prevent these tragedies from occurring is to inspect your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide monitors to ensure they are in proper working order. Additionally, throw away old newspapers, magazines, and other fire hazards, and keep any firewood at least 2 feet away from your home and off the ground.

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Don’t Forget…

Fall home maintenance can be a difficult process, but if you follow these helpful tips, you’ll make the right decision for your home. Not only will this guide help, but BACK Construction and our skilled craftsman are only a phone call away. BACK Construction can assist you with all of your questions or concerns about Fall home maintenance can help you with all your repair and remodeling needs. Why try to rough it on your own when BACK can have your back? Call BACK Construction today!

If you have questions about remodeling projects, or just want some further tips, feel free to give us a call. Did you know that we also offer handyman services? Because of BACK Construction’s reputation of being the highest quality remodeler in Lexington, Kentucky, many people think we only do large projects. We offer the same quality for small projects as with a large project, because we have the same skilled craftsmen on each and every one. In fact, BACK’s handyman service is an Angie’s List Super Service Award winner.

Contact us today, no matter what size project you have, and we will provide our quality workmanship to handle your project with care. Our team of skilled, professional craftsmen will make sure your project is done BACK better!

Sources: 1, 2, 3