Mike Holmes: Never too early to start autumn preparations

It’s never too soon to prepare for the changing of the seasons. “But Mike, it’s still August,” I can already hear you groaning. And you’re right, we’ve still got most of August and September to enjoy some great summer weather — but that means you’ve got a lot of time left to complete your preventive maintenance tasks.

Remember, contractor’s schedules fill up quickly, so by starting your projects earlier, you’ll have your pick of the litter, whether you need a new roof, to change your pool liner or to replace some old, drafty windows.

Here are a few tasks I want you to start thinking about this week to stay ahead of the game:

*Roof maintenance*

Your most important maintenance projects will be focused on your building envelope. The roof, foundation, doors, windows, and siding are what separates the interior of your home from the elements outdoors — and I do mean that literally!

A strong, well-protected roof keeps water out of your home — which otherwise can lead to mould and rot of your building materials. You can start with a visual check of your roof. Keeping an eye out for any curled shingles, or shingles that have blown off all together. If you need a new roof this year, you’ve still got plenty of time to get a replacement before winter hits.

While you’re checking your roof, pay close attention to the eavestroughs. Ensure they’re still fitted snugly against the roofline — and once the leaves begin to fall, ensure they’re kept clear.

This is also a good time of year to think about adding more insulation to your attic if you don’t have enough. The attic needs to be a cold zone so that heat doesn’t rise through your attic, melting the snow on your roof, which could lead to ice damming. Signs of ice damming could present as water stains on your ceilings, and in the winter time, bare spots where there should be snow, as well as icicles.

*Checking the foundation*

If left unchecked, cracks in the foundation can eventually lead to big water leaks. If you already see cracks in your foundation, letting them go through another freeze-thaw cycle during the wintertime could make them bigger and more dangerous.

Small cracks typically aren’t too big a concern. Keep an eye on them: If they don’t get any larger over a few months, you can usually fill them with an epoxy injection.

When the cracks are larger — about 1/2 an inch (1.25-2 cm) in width, call in a foundation pro right away. You’ll want to start those repairs as soon as possible. Depending on your climate, I wouldn’t recommend doing a foundation job in December or later — at that point the ground has likely already begun to freeze, and work should wait until the spring thaw.

*Closing the pool*

I love my pool, and it always makes me a little sad to close it at the end of each season.

Start by doing a visual inspection for cracks and leaks in the liner. Now is a good time to call a pro to talk about your options for the next season — so you can properly budget for repairs over the winter.

Then, skim all the gunk out of the pool to keep algae from forming and balance the water’s chemical levels. Clean out the filter and lower the water level of the pool, while draining the pumps, filters, and heaters.

Remove all the pool accessories (including ladders, slides, and diving boards) from the pool and cover the pool tightly to keep out more debris. If you see any rips or tears in the cover, repair those quickly.

The best thing you can do for your home is make sure you’re on top of your maintenance schedule. If you plan carefully, you won’t be caught unaware by a disaster that you waited too long to fix.

Nothing’s worse than having a critical part of your home fail and not have a contractor available to make a necessary fix.

For Postmedia News

To find out more about Mike Holmes, visit makeitright.ca


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