5 Fall Maintenance Tips for Your Home’s Exterior

As the leaves morph and temperatures drop, one thing is clear: fall is in the air! While this means back-to-school for the kids and some lovely outdoor hikes for the rest of us, it also means that it’s time to take care of your home. Thanks to winter’s impending presence and the loads of leaf debris the season produces, things can get hairy fast if preventative maintenance is shirked.

Gassen Construction & Maintenance, your local Eden Prairie roofing contractor and siding company, is here with a few quick tips on how to take care of your home as the weather cools.

Clean Your Gutters

Gutter cleaning should be done seasonally if one does not have gutter guards to help the system shed debris. This is especially important come fall!

Leaves can rapidly clog even the most modern of systems, resulting in overflow and subsequent foundation deterioration and siding stains. If that’s not bad enough, leaving your gutters to fill through the winter can contribute to ice dam formation – a nasty structure whose damaging effects can even reach your roof.

While you may find it gross to clean out your gutters, it’s certainly a task that must be done! Hire a professional if you don’t feel comfortable climbing a ladder and being on your roof.

Trim Back Trees & Shrubs

Late fall, when the growth of many plants has slowed down, is the best time to do this so you’re not stuck out in your snow boots come winter, trying to operate a pair of shears in mittens!

The harsh winds of winter can cause branches to scrape against your roof and siding, so cutting them to a healthy level is recommended. Moreover, when left to grow long enough, these same branches can serve as access points to your home for the local wildlife.

To protect your home and family and keep nature where it’s supposed to be, some prudent gardening is in order.

Check Out Your Roof & Call a Roofer

Roof leaks interfere with your home’s ability to ventilate itself properly, and if left unchecked, they can also lead to costly structural repairs. To prevent an unpleasant surprise when you check over your attic in the spring, call for storm damage repair or roof repair if you find an issue now.

Some signs of roofing damage you shouldn’t ignore can be difficult to spot from the ground (missing shingles, for example), so a seasonal professional inspection is also a good idea – even if nothing is apparently wrong.

Seal Doors & Windows

Before the cold air really hits, seal your doors and windows from wicked drafts. For windows that you’ll keep shut until spring, winterize them with temporary caulking.

Block cold air from doorways by installing a door sweep on the bottom of exterior doors and weather stripping along the frame. If you notice poor sealing of your windows or doors or continual drafts still blowing in, consider replacing them with better sealing, energy efficient windows and doors.

With so many high-quality windows on the market, installing ones that save on utility bills is a smart idea.

Get Your Furnace Checked

Before winter fully sets in, have your furnace inspected. The last thing you need is to have your furnace not working properly on the coldest days of the year!

Call a professional to verify everything is working, change your furnace filters, and enjoy having a warm home all winter long.

Gassen Construction & Maintenance: Comprehensive Exterior Help

As Eden Prairie roofers, gutter contractors and siding repair pros, we’d be happy to help you batten down your home’s hatches and get ready for the winter ahead. Along with your home, let Gasssen’s property management team help your whole HOA community prepare for fall with our additional HOA services.

Schedule a consultation today or give us a call at 952-922-5575.