PREPARE FOR WINTER

Keep minor repairs from
becoming major expenses

BIRDS FLY south. Bears hiber-
mate. We discover czacks, leaks
and chimney problems.

This winter can be different.
You can prepare your home for
the cold and keep minor repairs
from becoming major expenses.

inspecting your house for minor
repairs — and fixing them —- can
prevent major prchiems. The
winter weather can cause problems
and cost lots of money, if you
don’t take care of them in time.
Most repairs are much simpler to
do than you think, if you use high
performance patching materials.

Follow this checklist for a fall
home inspection to help prepare
your house for the winter season.

GUTTERS

* As winter approaches, rain
and snow will dominate the
weather picture. If gutters and
downspouts don’t have gaps or
holes, they will keep water away
from the house to protect against
wood rot and paint peeling.

© Inspect the gutters for any rus-
ty holes or gaps by pouring water
in them to check for leaks.

© To repair rust damage or gaps,
wire brush loose paint, flaky rust
and debris. Then patch the rust
holes and gaps so the gutters can
do their job.

@ Make sure the gutters and
downspouts are firmly attached. If
not, fasten them securely.

CONCRETE SURFACES

© Driveways, garage floors,
sidewalks and patios are subject to

cracks and spalling. Once started,
they can lead to costly concrete
replacement — if not repaired
first.

® Clear any loose concrete and
dirt from the damaged area.

® Apply a concrete patching ma-
terial. Patch the crack or spalled
area by first dampening the dam-
aged spot. Then fil! it with a pat-
ching material, using a trowel to
smooth the surface and feather in
the edges.

DECKS AND RAILINGS

¢ Check for any cracks or rot in
the wood. If there is damage —
ice, moisture and co!d weather will
oniy make it worse.

*Repair rotted or damaged
areas by filling in the holes and
cracks with a wood patching pro-
duct.

* If rotting or decay is serious,
check for water, termites and other
elements which may be causing the
problem. If you find one of these
problems, you will need to soive it
in order to prevent a reoccurrence.

¢ Paint or seal to protect the
wood after you’ve made the
repairs.

BASEMENTS

* Inspect the inside and outside
of your home’s concrete and wood
foundation for cracks, rot or sur-
face deterioration. These provide a
place for water to seep in, a cause
for a wet basement, as well as an
entrance for rodents and insects.

e Patch any cracks or gaps you
find with a high performance pat-

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ching product.

© Resurface the above-grade ex-
terior and interior walls with a
sealer.

GARDEN TOOLS

® Before you store them for the

winter, check your gardening tools.

ei if rust holes are starting to
appear, clean the dirt, loose raint
and flaky rust with a wire brush
and fill in any voids with a metal
repair product.

BRICKS AND MORTAR

© Inspect the bricks around your
house.

®To repair, scrape out
deteriorated mortar aad
thoroughly brush the cavity.

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