As the advertisements for “Pumpkin Spice Everything” begin to bombard our news feeds. It’s time to start thinking about the home maintenance tasks we can complete in the early fall to prepare for the colder winter months ahead.
Personally, the exterior of our Homes are where we focus our attention at this time of year. Here are a few of the items we choose to take care of during the warmer fall weather.
1. Inspect sidewalks and driveways for cracks and fill in with appropriate materials. (Home Depot or Lowes have a variety of products designed to assist with small repairs). Choosing to fill in a little crack before we enter the freeze-melt-thaw-REPEAT cycle in Alberta can prevent it from becoming a bigger issue later.
2. Walk the perimeter of the home to make sure the slope of the drainage is leading away from the foundation. You want any spring snow melt to be running on to the grass for a lovely green lawn.
3. Inspect all gutters and downspouts for debris and clean them out as needed. Clogged gutters can lead to ice damming, where ice can form up under the edge of shingles creating a water issue as it melts.
4. Trim up any trees or shrubs that may have overgrown their spaces and rake up leaves or fallen fruit. Maintaining a healthy yard not only creates a positive curb appeal but is an important factor in maintaining a healthy property value too.
We know, you’d rather be relaxing and enjoying the last few warm day of the summer. But, as our grandma used to say “There’s no use in grumbling, just get to it, because it’s got to be done”! And truly, proper home maintenance is just good stewardship of the privilege we have in being home owners.
Sincerely,
The Rosts
INFORMATION HEREIN DEEMED RELIABLE BUT NOT GUARANTEED
