Everyone wishes for a beautiful house that’s in tip-top shape throughout the year. But it takes effort to make your home look like the appealing mansions you see on TV every day. House maintenance is a troublesome activity involving regular inspection, meticulous observation, and timely action, along with careful budgeting. And if you live in areas with harsh weather patterns, your house might need additional weather-proofing, too.
For instance, if you’re a resident of Wisconsin, a state that’s prone to freezing temperatures and dangerous winter storms, [m1] or if you own a house in Illinois, which is regularly in danger of floods and heavy snow[m2] , you need to prepare your house to stand the extreme climate and potential catastrophes. Otherwise, not only will the life span of your property diminish significantly, but your daily life will be disturbed a great deal owing to infrastructure damages and subsequent heavy costs.
No need to worry, though! By following the tips for weather-proofing your home we’ve mentioned below, you can cut down on future costly repairs. Let’s go through them!
1. Get a New Roof
If you reside in Wisconsin, which experiences 23 tornadoes per year on average[m3] , sparing some budget to invest in a new roof is the best step you can take to protect your real estate. With this one updated feature, the foundation and walls of your house would also be shielded from severe weather.
For durable solutions, you can easily find expert roof contractors in your area with affordable payment options that suit your budget. Professional services like the XL Contracting roofing company offer long-term warranties on every remodeling project they conduct in Wisconsin and Illinois, so you can be certain you’re getting the best treatment. A roof replacement could decide the future of the whole structure of your real estate for the next 20 to 50 years, [m4] depending on the material used, so it’s important to have it done right.
Make sure to arrange a yearly inspection with your roof contractors as a precaution. If minor problems arise, tackling them promptly is better than facing heavy repair costs later on.
2. Install Storm-Shutters
A pro tip to ensure your safety in harsh climates is to install storm shutters on your windows. They are easy to use in times of emergencies like winter storms and hurricanes. Just pull the shutter down when you see the storm coming, and your windows will be covered with an extra layer of protection. They’re great when it comes to securing the interior structure of your house, as well as preventing storm debris from messing up your rooms.
Some storm shutters even come in different designs, so you don’t need to worry about compromising your exterior design either. With the right choice, you can give a trendy look to your home while taking appropriate safety measures simultaneously.
3. Landscape Appropriately
If you have an outside lawn or a garden, make sure to landscape it properly before the stormy season arrives. Otherwise, it will become a pain in the neck to maintain your garden after the damage from snow and rain. You need to make time for tending to your plants in the summer, too, as extreme weather of any kind is detrimental to plant health. Here are some key tips for tending to your lawn:
- Remove dirt and weeds from the garden
- Clear the dead roots, leaves, and soil from paths
- Prune the trees and plants
- Screen the roots
- Use landscaping tools like pruning shears, shovels, pressure washers, garden forks, stiff brushes, etc.
- Cover your soil with straw or plastic to preserve its fertility during cold weather
- Avoid fertilizing plants during intense summers
4. Choose Robust Siding
Investing in siding is an excellent way to make sure your home is weather-proofed, in addition to enhancing the exterior design and prolonging your property’s life span. And the best part is that even if your place has been through decades of wear and tear, getting new siding can make it look as good as new.
It’s also a great way to ward off pests, insulate your home for temperature control during extreme weather, and prevent water damage. However, keep in mind that there are pros and cons to every siding material. So, choose the siding you want to install wisely. You can contact siding contractors to advise you on what best suits your location.
5. Make Wall Repairs
Although gradual degradation of walls is inevitable, particular weather conditions can accelerate the wear and tear of walls and doors. Therefore, check your exterior walls regularly for cracks and gaps to prevent unwanted air and moisture from invading your home. If these issues go unnoticed, they can cause some serious damage to your infrastructure. You can immediately seal the gaps yourself if the cracks are small. Coating with appropriate materials like plaster, concrete, or silicon-based products and then repainting the wall may suffice in such cases. However, other larger cracks may require professional repairs.
6. Upgrade your Doors
The doors in your house are one of the biggest hurdles in your way to an energy-efficient home. Most of the heat in your home exits through your doors. So, consider replacing the door with a more insulated and air-tight one. If you wish for a more affordable method, upgrading the current door by putting draft stops at the bottom is a good option. Another option is to add a storm door in front of your current door. By doing so, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone. This additional door provides protection against storms, hail, rain, and bleak winds, in addition to perfectly insulating your home.
Conclusion
Weather-proofing your home is an essential part of home maintenance, especially in regions with intense climates. Properly preparing your house for inclement weather requires additional care and budgeting. However, a few timely investments can bring you multiple benefits in the long run. So, be sure to follow our guide, and you’ll be living in a safe, energy-efficient, and durable home in no time.
