The air is turning chillier and the multi-colored fall leaves are starting to disappear from the trees – there’s no doubt about it, autumn is here. This means now is the time to start prepping your outdoor space for the colder season.
Exterior Home Maintenance Checklist for Fall
Home projects for prepping your space for wintertime don’t have to be complicated. From sprucing up your curb appeal to making your home safer, here’s our exterior home maintenance checklist for getting your home ready for fall.
Prune Trees and Shrubs
Pruning your trees and shrubs in the fall is not only easier because there aren’t as many leaves on them, but it also makes it easier to spot signs of poor health. Pruning during this time of year will help your trees to look less unruly as you get them primed for next spring.
Stay on Top of the Gutters and Downspouts
Fall season is gutter and downspout cleaning season, and you want to clean them early and often to ensure they don’t get clogged. If they do, then there’s an increased risk of water finding its way inside your home where it can do significant damage. Better yet, you should consider the Thompson Creek Gutter System to significantly reduce seasonal maintenance.
Rake Leaves
Having a blanket of colorful leaves on your lawn looks great in the fall. In fact, it adds a touch of autumnal décor to your home’s exterior. But you don’t want the leaves to remain on your lawn too long because they can inhibit new growth, especially if they’re left on the ground over the winter.
Seal Any Gaps in the Home’s Exterior
With the weather turning colder, insects and critters will start looking for ways to get inside. So, inspect your home’s exterior and seal any gaps, cracks or spaces where they might be able to get in.
Check Your Walkways, Railings, Stairs and Driveway
If you live in a part of the country that receives snow in the winter, then now is the time you’ll want to check your exterior walking spaces, like your walkways, stairs and driveway, as well as any hand railings. If anything needs to be fixed, do it now because once it snows, these trip hazards may be hidden from view.
Turn Off Exterior Faucets and Store Away Hoses
Disconnecting your outside hoses from the faucets and storing the hoses away needs to be done before freezing temperatures roll in. Turn off the water feed to the exterior faucets to prevent the pipes from freezing and breaking.
Clean Your Dryer Vent
While you’re outside cleaning up the yard, take a moment and clean out your dryer vent. This will help your dryer work more efficiently and make your home safer.
Schedule Chimney Cleaning and Furnace Maintenance
The cooler it gets, the more likely you’ll call on your furnace or your fireplace. Schedule chimney-cleaning services and have your furnace inspected now, so they’re ready to go when you need them.
Need Exterior Repairs? Contact Thompson Creek Today
Thompson Creek offers a variety of home repair and renovation services that can help improve the beauty and functionality of your home. With the fall season here, now is the perfect time to have certain exterior projects taken care of, like installing new siding or gutters. It’s also the time you want to have a new roof installed if you need one because you don’t want to go into winter with a leaky roof. To learn more or to find out how we can help improve your home, contact Thompson Creek and get a free estimate for your fall repairs today.