How to Increase Your Home’s Weather Protection

Homes are not built to last forever, but they can withstand the elements over a certain period. Today’s homes are built to last 30 to 40 years. Maintaining your home is important so that it continues to provide a safe place to live. More than 30% of the cost of the average home is for the foundation, structure and framing. The exterior walls and roof cover the next 25%, and the interior accounts for 12% of the total cost of a home. Most of the cost of a home is in the structure and framing.

We can’t control the weather, but we can prepare ourselves for it by doing some simple things that can increase the home’s weather protection. 

Inspect and fix the roof

One of the most significant factors in how well your home will withstand the weather is the condition of your roof. If your roof is not in good condition, it will not be able to protect your home against rain, snow and wind. You should always inspect your roof, preferably once a year, to ensure that it is in good condition. At the same time, you should also ensure that it is properly ventilated to prevent mold and mildew and allow rain to drain properly.

A new roof can be a great investment in your home, offering protection from the elements, a longer lifespan and energy savings. But before you move forward with a new roof, it’s important to know if you’re already making the most of the one you have. Inspections from a roofing contractor can be a great way for homeowners to understand the condition of their roof, find minor problems prior to major ones and take care of problems before they become more expensive. It’s important to know that a roof won’t last forever and will need to be replaced at some point, which is why it’s so important to have it inspected and maintained regularly.

Insulate pipes

One of the most forgotten elements of an improvement project is the pipes. Pipes can freeze during the winter months, causing burst pipes and other issues. Take the time to insulate the pipes in the walls of your home. This will help to keep the temperature within your walls and pipes more consistent. This prevents any drastic temperature changes that may cause the pipes to freeze.

Place draft guards

Draft guards, also known as air barriers, are used to stop air from moving through large gaps in your home. Draft guards are typically used in areas where there are large windows and doors. By closing these gaps, you are able to stop cold air from coming in. Another great way to prevent drafts is to stop the heat loss from your home’s foundation.

Repair and seal around windows

A draft coming from windows is one of the most common problems in homes. This can be caused by many things – the seal where the window is installed, the frame around the window is damaged, and improperly installed windows. The first thing to do is to locate the source of the draft. If you don’t know how to do that, you can use a candle to find out. Light the candle and then hold it up to the different windows and doors in your home. If the flame moves, a draft is coming from that area, and you should check what’s going on.

Windows are usually the largest holes in the walls of your home and are also the easiest to repair. Most homeowners simply use a piece of tape to cover a broken seal and call it good. However, this doesn’t actually do anything to fix the problem. The tape will eventually peel off, and the draft will return. The first step in repairing a window is to identify the source of the problem. If it’s a broken seal that you can see, you can use a silicone-based caulk to fix it. You can also use caulk to seal up gaps around the window. If the issue is that the window is not properly in place, you can use a caulking gun and silicone caulk to fill the gap and seal it up.