Protect Your Home from Inclement Weather with These Tips

Your home was built to protect you—to keep you safe and warm, no matter what’s happening outside. Like your pets and your car, all it needs in return is a little love and attention. Protect your home from inclement weather with these tips so it can provide reliable shelter. Here’s a weatherproofing checklist for your home.

Inspect the roof twice a year. The roof takes a beating from harsh wind, searing heat, and driving rain. The occasional snow and ice storms here in Dallas-Fort Worth add their challenges, too. Check the roof in spring and fall, looking for cracked, loose, damaged, or missing shingles. Loose shingles can get caught up in a high wind and become dangerous projectiles.

Inspect the flashing, too. Recaulk cracks that could worsen. If the damage needs more than a little caulk, bring in a roofer to determine whether the flashing should be replaced.

Also, plan to clean your roof periodically. Leaves and other debris that build up in crevices will prohibit the flow of water down the roof and to the gutters. When that happens, the water seeps under the shingles. That leads to a leaky roof, or rust if you have a metal roof.

Don’t let minor issues on your roof create a major problem. Do the necessary repairs to avoid further damage, both to your roof and inside your home. 

Clean your gutters and downspouts. The job of your home’s gutters and downspouts is to move water away from the roof, siding, windows, doors, and foundation. When debris or ice dams up the works, the water can back up, rotting the fascia and leaking into your home. Protect your home by keeping those pathways clear and make sure the downspouts are directed away from the foundation.

Caulk your doors and windows. Cracks and holes in the weatherstripping create air and water leaks. Not only are you wasting energy with these drafts, but the moisture will lead to water stains and possibly mold. Either caulk those gaps or replace the weatherstripping, as needed.

Slope the soil away from the foundation. When heavy rains hit, the water needs to flow somewhere. Steer it away from your home by creating a 6-inch slope over an 8- to 10-foot width from the foundation, all around your home’s exterior.

Trim your trees and shrubs. Get rid of dead branches or limbs that could blow away with a heavy wind—striking a person or your home with more force than you might expect.

Secure outdoor furniture. Protect your outdoor decor as well as your home. When a heavy wind whips through, it can lift and hurl anything that isn’t weighted down. A strong wind can turn even a harmless flower pot into a rocket crashing through your window. If you know a storm is coming, either move loose items indoors or secure them to prevent unnecessary damage. 

Your home is a major investment, so why not invest a little time in weatherproofing and protecting it?

Maybe your current home isn’t quite the right fit for you. If you’re thinking about a new home or townhome in the Houston and DFW metro areas, please look at HistoryMaker Homes’ communities, starting with a virtual tour of our homes. We have a selection of quick move-in homes for sale right now, all brand new and fully covered by our warranty. Or choose the community and the floor plan and let us build your dream home. Wherever your future home brings you, HistoryMaker Homes would like to join you on that journey. Let us know how we can help you.

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