It's that time of year again, and here in North Carolina we are begining to feel the change. Thats right, old man winter is right around the corner. Because we're having cold temperatures at night it's time to start thinking of home winter preparation.

What is home winter preparation, you ask? It is the things that need to be done, to, and around your home to help protect it from the elements. First off, lets talk about the trees close to the structure. Any overhanging branches that are close to the roof need to be trimed or removed. Wind will do wonders with these branches and the effects of branches blowing and making contact with the shingles can be costly.

Next it's time to remove all leaves, dirt and branches from the gutters. Any debris in the gutters will weigh it down. It prevents all of the water from reaching the downspouts. Also take time to make sure the downspouts are clean as well and that all of the water, coming from the downspouts, runs away from the foundation. Check to make sure the gutters are in good shape and not sagging or falling away from the structure. Make any repairs needed.

Now that the trees are trimmed and the gutters are clean, it's time to inspect the roof for missing, cracked, or deteriorated shingles. Areas with missing shingles, obviously need to be fixed. The idea is to keep all the water on top of the shingles and not let it get under them. Replace any broken or missing shingles. Now if you notice a few cracked shingles, it is a good idea to buy a tube of roofers caulk and fill these cracks in. Also check the caulking around any flashing, vents, sky lights, and chiminey. These are the most common areas for water entry. If you are not a DIY type of person, then you may need to find a roofing contractor or handyman to do this for you.

Any exposed wood, for example, the fascia and rake boards, needs to be sealed. A fresh coat of paint or stain will do the trick. One way to tell if your are in need of paint is to look for peeling or cracked paint. If the fascia or rake boards have been stained, check for discoloration or fading. These are signs of needing to be stained or sealed again.  

Your roof is now ready for what winter has in store. A little work will save you a lot in the long run. My next blog will tackle the rest of the home, excluding the roof.