Now Is The Time To Protect Your Homes Exterior

Winter is on the way and will be here before you know it.  The cold damp and hopefully rainy days will take their toll on your homes exterior siding.  Most homes are made with some type of wood siding but even if you have vinyl siding you need to take precautions.  Even the newer fiber cement that are thought to last for the life of the home need some care from damage due to rainy wet or snowy weather.  I live in Pollock Pines so we get snow, well hopefully that is.

So here’s what you need to do now in order to prepare for the coming weather.

First off if there is any type of vegetation that is growing on the siding of your home it needs to be trimmed back or removed.  Some plat species are very invasive and can get underneath the siding or penetrate at a weak point.  These plants can allow moisture or insects to get into your home in a not so great place.  Moisture can cause a host of issues from peeling paint to dry rotted wood, which can be costly to repair.

Next you need to look for any places that water can it such as around the windows and doors of your home. These areas need to be checked and if needed repaired now before significant damage is done.  Make sure that the trim around your windows is tight fitting to the home, if need be add nails to get them close.  Then a caulk around the trim may be a wise precaution as well.  Preventing water from getting in behind the trim can prevent a host of issues down the road and this quick fix can help on your heating bills.

Can you say gutters???  Many homeowners rarely or never check the gutters to their home.  Don’t just check when the leaves or pine needles are falling off the trees, this should be checked regularly.  Birds and squirrels will make nests in you gutters, stock up for winter and this quickly can become a major problem.  Waiting until you see the gutter overflowing during a rain storm at night is not the time to clear that mess.  Believe me, I have been out there at night in the rain trying to clear a clog in my gutter and have fallen off the ladder, NOT FUN.  Water backing up in the gutter can quickly seep into the sub roofing material or even get behind the homes siding.  Clean out your gutters to prevent damage and an E.R. trip in the middle of the night.

Written by John Conca for www.RealtyTimes.com Copyright © 2016 Realty Times All Rights Reserved. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in El Dorado County call me, text me or email at 530-306-3494 or john.conca@century21.com, I can help you.