Exterior Home Repairs That Should Be Done Before It's Too Late - 

When fall and winter are just around the corner, make sure to tackle these simple home repairs early to prevent long-term damage.

Gutters

Are your gutters full of leaves and debris?  Now we all know cleaning gutters is not the best way to spend your Saturday. However, it can prevent serious damage down the road. So remember to clean them out to keep water flowing when it rains.  When water backs up, it can cause the siding and trim to rot, and it also attracts mosquitoes. We'll cover repairing siding and trim next in this article. In the winter this water will freeze causing ice damming which may damage your roof.

To clean the gutters, grab a ladder and a pair of gloves and starting at one end of the drain, scoop the leaves and debris out by hand. Then run water from your hose down the gutters making sure the water comes out the downspout. If no water comes out of the downspout, remove it and clean it out as well.

Another option is to have gutter covers installed on your gutters by a trusted Omaha gutter company. Gutter covers keep leaves and debris from entering your gutters in the first place, eliminating the need to clean the gutters. This is particularly helpful in Omaha with all of our fall leaves.

 

Siding and Trim

Siding and trim rot spreads, which makes a little problem a much bigger project down the road. Rotted wood is a playground for pests, such as carpenter ants, who would love to set up a nest in your home.

To repair cut into the rotted wood when it is dry, not wet, and remove and replace with new wood. Cutting into the wood when it is dry prevents further damage.  You can always call a trusted Omaha wood siding repair company to replace the wood for you and make sure it matches with your existing siding.

 

Driveway Cracks

Pavement cracks can expand and lift the concrete down the line as water expands when it freezes.

You can repair cracks up to 1-inch wide with an asphalt patch kit. Be sure to remove any weeds from the cracks and to follow the instructions on the asphalt patch product you choose.

You will want to call a professional for potholes and cracks larger than 1-inch wide.

 

Leaky Faucets

A leaking valve may not seem like that big of a deal but, they are a waste of money and can cause severe damage, such as rot, in the long run.  As we discussed earlier in this article, this opens the door to pests, not to mention mold and mildew.

To repair leaky faucets, turn off the water and start by replacing the o-rings and washers first as they wear over time. Remember to take note as you take the valve apart of where each part belongs. Also, take the o-rings and gaskets from your faucet to the hardware store to ensure you get the correct replacement.

These are just a few repairs you can make this fall to save you time, money, and a headache later on down the road.