Spring is on the horizon – is your home ready for the change of seasons?

In the Northeast, each season comes with different weather than the last. Let’s take a look at how to gear up for April showers and May flowers.

Step 1: Inspect the outside of your home for possible damage caused by the cold winter months.

Give yourself a starting place to make it easier – we’ll work top down.

If your house has a chimney take a look and make sure nothing, such as leaves or animals, is blocking the opening. Also, be sure to check the outside of the chimney for any close bricks or siding depending on the material.

Clear the gutters of any debris causing blockage from adequate draining. Overflowing or stagnate gutters can be just as detrimental to a home as loose shingles on the roof. Clogged gutters force water to sit at the base of the roof instead of properly draining. If this stagnant water raises enough it can seep into the edges of the roof causes permanent water damage.

Inspect the shingles on your roof making sure nothing is loose or rotted for the upcoming rainfall. One loose shingle can add to numerous more loose shingles as the wind and rain continue. Loose or rotted roofing shingles can cause a significant problem if not properly taken care of. Water can seep into your roof or attic and sit there rotting the wood from underneath with no room for the water to escape. If enough water pools in the roof it is possible for the water to make its way down into the house causing even more damage.

Once the top level of the house is completely inspected move down to the “body of the house.” Ensuring the quality of the siding, windows, and doors is as important in making sure your home is prepared for those April showers.

Along with the roof, checking to make sure there are no missing or loose siding pieces is important in keeping a home healthy. While inspecting siding keep a look out for loose, buckled, or shrunken siding. Each of these can hurt the integrity of the siding and ultimately your home. Siding not flush with the home can allow for rain, wind, and animal damage. Small creatures such squirrels and chipmunks would love to make your home theirs as well.

Last but not least, once the roof and siding are inspected check to make sure all of your windows, doors, and screens are working properly. Holes might have appeared in your window and door screens from the snow and the salt. The holes mean your house is no longer protected from pesky bugs in the springs months.

Step 2: If anything on your home is not ready for the springtime make sure to replace it!

Be sure not to wait too long to replace much-needed protection for your home. Damaged roofing and siding allow for the elements to attack your home from the outside in. We are ready to help after a home inspection! Here at Advanced Window Systems, LLC we specialize in replacement products for your home. We can replace windows, roofing, siding, and doors damaged by the harsh winter months. Give us a call at 1 – 800 – CALL-AWS or check out our window pages.