Pre-Winter Checklist: Protecting Your Home’s Exterior

June 7, 2023

snow covered suburban grey cottage

*Updated on November 4th, 2024

Preparing your home’s exterior for winter is essential to avoid costly repairs and ensure it withstands harsh weather conditions. From inspecting the roof to sealing windows and cleaning gutters, a pre-winter checklist helps you tackle necessary maintenance tasks, keeping your home protected and comfortable. By taking these proactive steps, you can minimize the risks that cold temperatures, snow, and ice pose, preserving your home’s durability and value through the season.

Inspect the Roof

Check your roof for any loose shingles or holes and get them fixed up. Make sure your attic has enough insulation to keep the heat in your home. It’s important to fix any problems right away to avoid leaks and damage.

Drain Faucets

Before fall is over, drain all outdoor faucets and hoses. Don’t forget sprinkler systems too. Any water left inside the pipes can freeze, causing the pipes to burst. Once you drain all faucets, disconnect any removable hoses and cover your faucets with insulators. This keeps everything warm and avoids frozen pipes.

Clean Gutters

Throughout the summer and fall months, leaves and debris likely clog up your gutters. If left there, they leave no room for water to drain, which in cold weather leads to ice dams. Ice dams can cause roofs to leak, gutters to collapse, and even water damage inside the home. Remove as much as you can now and add gutter guards to keep further debris out.

Cut Tree Branches

Take a look around your property. Are there low hanging trees or branches that look threatening? Think about what would happen with a little snow on them. Would they pose a threat to your roof or car? Trim whatever you can yourself or call a professional to take care of the trees to remove the threat.

Check your Windows and Doors

Even the smallest leak can cause your utility bills to skyrocket. Take a match around each window. If it flickers or blows out while you stand there, you have a leak. Add weather stripping or caulking to the offending windows to reduce energy leaks and eliminate the risk of water leaks/damage inside your home.

Check your Siding

Walk around your home and look for any weak areas in the siding. If snow can sneak through the siding, it gets into your home and causes water damage. Cracks, dents, or rotting all weaken siding, making it difficult to keep the snow or ice out. Have professionals fix the area before winter arrives.

Check your Paint

Inspect your home’s paint too. Even though chipped or scratched paint may not look threatening, it could be. When left untouched, it leads to weekend areas which can cause rotting or water leakage. If the wood underneath has already been damaged, you may need it replaced before winter.

Take Care of Lawn and Garden

Don’t forget about your lawn and garden! Use winter fertilizer and mulch to protect your plants and wrap young trees or shrubs in burlap to shield them from the snow and ice. This helps your garden stay healthy through the winter.

Inspect Chimneys and Vents

Check your chimney and exterior vents to ensure they are free of debris and blockages. Clear out any nests or leaves, and consider installing a chimney cap to prevent animals from entering. If you plan to use your fireplace, having the chimney professionally cleaned is essential for fire safety and efficient heating.

Secure Outdoor Furniture and Decorations

Bring in or secure any outdoor furniture, grills, and decorations to prevent damage during winter storms. High winds, snow, and ice can damage or move items, potentially causing harm to your home or landscaping. Store items in a shed or garage if possible, or use covers and anchors to keep them safe.

Seal Driveway and Walkways

Inspect your driveway and walkways for cracks and seal them before winter hits. Water can freeze in small cracks, causing them to expand and worsen. Sealing now prevents larger cracks, potholes, and erosion that could be costly to repair and a safety hazard in icy conditions.

Install Snow Guards and Check Downspouts

If you live in an area that experiences heavy snowfall, consider installing snow guards on your roof to prevent large snow sheets from sliding off and damaging property or injuring someone. Also, ensure downspouts are directed away from your foundation, so melting snow doesn’t pool around your home and cause water damage.

Insulate Garage Doors

If your garage is attached to your home, insulating the garage door helps maintain a more stable temperature inside and prevents cold drafts from reaching the interior. Insulated doors and added weather stripping can improve energy efficiency and protect stored items from freezing.

Cover Foundation Vents and Openings

Inspect vents around the foundation and close them for the winter to prevent drafts and keep pests from entering your home. Many foundation vents can be covered temporarily with insulated vent covers to reduce heat loss and keep your home warmer.

Protect Decking and Outdoor Stairs

Apply a waterproof sealer to your deck, porch, and outdoor stairs to prevent wood or composite materials from absorbing moisture, which could lead to rot or cracking when temperatures drop. Ensuring a non-slip surface also helps prevent icy build-up and makes winter shoveling easier.

Check Outdoor Lighting

Winter brings shorter days, so ensure all outdoor lighting is working properly to keep pathways well-lit and safe. Replace any burned-out bulbs and consider installing motion-sensor lights for added security and convenience during darker months.

Conclusion

Completing a pre-winter checklist is a valuable investment in your home’s longevity and your peace of mind. By taking proactive steps to secure and weatherproof your home’s exterior, you can prevent costly damage, improve energy efficiency, and ensure your home stays safe and comfortable throughout the winter months.

From inspecting your roof to preparing outdoor areas, each task plays a crucial role in protecting your property. With these preparations in place, you can relax and enjoy the season knowing your home is ready to handle whatever winter brings.

FAQs

Can Snow Accumulation Damage the Roof?

Yes! Heavy snow can indeed stress your roof. It’s especially important to remove snow after a heavy snowfall to avoid any potential damage. There are roof rakes designed for this, but in cases of excessive snow, you may want to call a professional.

How Do I Check for Drafts in Doors?

A simple way is to hold a lighted candle or incense stick close to the door seams. If the smoke moves or the flame flickers, there may be a draft. Consider adding weatherstripping or a door sweep to seal these leaks.

How Often Should I Inspect My Home’s Exterior Paint?

It’s good practice to inspect your exterior paint annually. Look out for peeling, cracking, or chipping, as these can expose the underlying material to the elements, potentially leading to damage.

How Can I Protect My Outdoor Plants During Winter?

Use burlap wraps for sensitive shrubs and trees, and apply mulch around the base of plants to provide extra insulation to the roots. This helps in protecting them from freezing temperatures and frost heaves.

Do Gutter Guards Eliminate the Need for Gutter Cleaning?

Not entirely. While gutter guards can reduce the amount of debris entering the gutters, it’s still essential to inspect and clean them regularly to ensure proper water flow and to prevent ice dams.

When Should You Start?

Start now protecting your home’s exterior. Throughout the fall, continue to remove any debris, but have professionals inspect your roof and gutters to make sure they can handle a hefty winter. We never know what winter will throw at us and if you want your home to stay intact and look just as beautiful on the other side of winter, start now protecting it. It takes a little work and money now, but it pays off in the end as you don’t have to pay for major or emergency repairs during the winter months.

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