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If you own a home or other property, you may need to take certain steps to ensure it is weatherproof throughout the year. This is particularly important if you like to welcome friends and other guests to your home regularly, but it’s essential that your home is well-looked after and is sustainable too.
Some homes are located in places which makes them more susceptible to poor weather conditions, but all properties need to be looked after well in order to withstand difficult conditions.
Weatherproofing your home will keep the physical bricks and mortar safer from damage, while ensuring you’re able to live in a safe and comfortable home.
1. Invest in the Proper Heating
This is a particularly important point to consider if you have an outdoor area where you and your guests will be spending time. People are unlikely to stay and enjoy themselves if they’re feeling cold. Monitor the temperature of your home to see whether you need to turn the heating up or turn the air conditioning on during warmer months.
2. Protect the Space from Heavy Rains
There are several things you can do to keep your home safe from heavy rains and other weather conditions. Consider high quality awnings and other covers for the garden. You can check out companies like Nationwide Home Innovations which have a variety of options available for homes and businesses.
With years of experience tailoring roofs, awnings, and verandas for homes and other properties, it can be straightforward to get the advice you need and decide what will work for you.
As well as helping to channel heavy rainfall in the right direction and towards the proper draining systems, awnings and other covered areas like patios can help to keep you and your guests dry and create a safe outdoor space.
3. Fix Any Leaks
If you notice any leaks in the building, no matter how small, get them sorted out as quickly as possible. Leaks will never get better on their own since the area has already been damaged and weakened. But they can become worse, which comes with extra costs – both in terms of money and time – further down the road. Bad leaks can cause worse problems which can be devastating in the longer term.
In the short-term, use buckets and other pots to catch any leaking water, and leave warning signs if you’re expecting guests who might be passing through this area. Contact a reputable tradesperson who will be able to come and fix the leaks as quickly as possible.
Take steps to prevent leaks happening in future, such as strengthening the area where this has occurred in the past and exploring waterproof materials which could help to reinforce this.
4. Provide Adequate Shade
While many weather-related problems with buildings occur in the colder months, it doesn’t mean the warmer months bring no problems at all when it comes to looking after your property. High temperatures can cause cracks and heat damage to certain areas of the property, so if the sun is coming out, it might be time to put some additional measures in place.
In the immediate term, provide adequate shade in your home so that it is comfortable for you and anyone else in the household who don’t want to be completely exposed to strong sunshine.
You should also take steps to shade items in and around the building which might receive high levels of sunshine, such as through the windows or glass doors. This could include electrical items such as toasters or kettles, or products which could become ruined, such as foods, cosmetics, and creams.
5. Inspect Regularly
Inspect the building and surroundings on a regular basis throughout the year so that you can spot any damage or problems as quickly as possible. This can prevent problems which occur when damaged areas are left too long without the right attention.
An inspection of your building doesn’t always have to take a long time, and it will depend on the size of the property. Walk around the building once a month or so to check there are no issues. The issues you may discover could be weather-related, but you’ll also have the opportunity to look for any other problems which might need to be resolved quickly.
The sooner you spot any problems, the easier it can be to sort it out. This applies to all buildings, and many homeowners choose to pay for an annual professional inspection for extra peace of mind.
6. Keep the Draughts Away
In colder weather, there are steps you can take to keep the draughts out of your property. Again, this is critically important if you or other people are sitting or standing inside your property and may be affected by draughts coming through the doors or windows.
You can buy draught excluders to use in any parts of the building where the cool air seems to be making its way in, for example, under the front door. You should also think about how to tackle the problem of draughts coming in if people are coming in and going out of your home.
Consider asking everyone in the household to use one door to enter and exit, so that others can stay away from the cold.
7. Choose Furniture Carefully
If you want a patio or other outdoor area which is suitable for all weathers, it’s important to think about the type of furniture you choose. A lot of outdoor furniture is suitable for the warm weather, but not always ideal when the weather takes a turn for the worse.
When deciding which furniture to buy for your home and garden, check out the type of weather it is suitable for. Seek further advice, especially when investing large amounts of money in new outdoor furniture. Another option is to buy furniture specifically for the summer and then have a separate set of winter furniture, but this will come with an additional cost and depends on the budget available.
8. Avoid Slips and Trips
When welcoming guests and other people to your home, the last thing you need is a nasty accident. Monitor any pathways and other areas that may be affected by heavy rains or snowfall and ensure it is cleared as soon as possible.
Rain, snow, and ice can cause many accidents, particularly among children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups. Before leaving your home or inviting others to come and visit, ensure any snow or ice has been removed from the pathways leading to your front door, and the area which is part of your property is as free as possible from any slippery ice or snow.
During periods of heavy snowfall, this might be something you need to do at least once a day, and you can use salt to prevent more ice forming.
Homeowners should always give consideration to the weather conditions and how best to adapt their properties to make it safe and comfortable throughout the year. Doing this will come with some additional costs, but ultimately it will make your home last longer and ensure you and your whole household has a safe, comfortable, and cosy place to live.
