New Jersey winters can be unpredictable, so it’s important to make sure your home is prepared before colder weather arrives. Fall is a great time for New Jersey homeowners to take care of exterior maintenance, address small issues, and help protect their homes against freezing temperatures, snow, and ice.
Fall weather gives homeowners an opportunity to inspect the exterior of their homes and make necessary repairs before winter conditions set in.
Before winter arrives, here are eight projects to check off your fall home maintenance list.
First things first: clean your gutters!
Falling leaves can quickly fill gutters throughout the fall, especially on properties surrounded by mature trees. Clogged gutters can prevent rainwater and melting snow from draining properly.
When cleaning your gutters, make sure to:
The last thing you want during a cold winter is to deal with gutters filled with old leaves, water, snow, and ice. Taking care of them now can help keep water flowing properly throughout the winter.
Fall is also a good time to take a look at your roof before it has to handle New Jersey's winter weather.
Look for signs of damage such as:
You don't necessarily need to climb onto the roof to perform an initial inspection. Many problems can be spotted safely from the ground. If you notice something that doesn't look right, consider having your roof inspected by a qualified roofing professional before snow and ice arrive.
Take a lap around your house and inspect the siding, windows, and exterior doors. Look for cracks, gaps, or other areas where cold air or moisture could make its way inside.
Pay particular attention to:
Different gaps may require different materials. Caulk and spray foam can help seal stationary areas, such as around window frames, while weatherstripping is typically used around components that move, such as doors and operable windows.
Depending on the area you're sealing, specialty materials such as high-temperature caulk, metal flashing, or reflective foil may also be needed. Make sure you're using a product designed for the specific application.
Taking care of drafts and exterior gaps before winter can also help keep your New Jersey home more comfortable once temperatures begin to drop.
Before freezing temperatures arrive, don't forget about your outdoor faucets and water lines.
As part of your fall home maintenance, remember to:
Taking a few minutes to prepare your outdoor plumbing can help reduce the risk of frozen pipes and more significant plumbing problems during a New Jersey cold snap.
For more tips on protecting the plumbing inside your home, check out our guide on how to avoid freezing pipes in your home this winter.
Your deck, porch, and exterior stairs will also be exposed to snow, ice, moisture, and freezing temperatures throughout the winter.
Before winter arrives, check for:
Fall is a good opportunity to identify and address these problems before harsher weather sets in.
As temperatures drop, heating systems, fireplaces, and other fuel-burning appliances typically start getting more use.
Use your fall home maintenance checklist as a reminder to:
It's a simple task, but an important one as you spend more time indoors during the colder months.
Make sure your fireplace is ready before you light the first fire of the season.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, consider having your chimney inspected and cleaned by a qualified professional. An inspection can identify buildup, blockages, damage, and other potential concerns before the fireplace is put into regular use.
Taking care of your fireplace and chimney during the fall means you'll be prepared when those cold New Jersey nights arrive.
Take a look at the trees surrounding your property and check for dead, damaged, or overhanging branches.
Pay particular attention to branches near your:
Snow and ice can add significant weight to tree branches, increasing the chance that weakened branches could break during a winter storm.
Small, easily accessible branches may be manageable on your own, but larger branches or anything close to your home or utility lines should be handled by a qualified tree professional.
A little fall home maintenance can go a long way toward preparing your home for a New Jersey winter. Cleaning your gutters, inspecting your roof, sealing exterior gaps, protecting outdoor plumbing, checking your deck, and addressing other maintenance items now can help you identify potential problems before colder weather makes them more difficult to handle.
For homeowners in Morris County and surrounding areas, fall is the perfect time to walk around your property and see what needs attention before the first snowstorm arrives.
At JMC Design Build Remodel, we've been helping homeowners throughout Morris County and surrounding New Jersey communities improve their homes since 1977. If your fall maintenance checklist has you thinking about larger improvements, such as a kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, basement remodel, home addition, or aging-in-place project, our design-build team can help you plan a home that better fits your needs.
Take advantage of the remaining fall weather, get these projects checked off your list, and head into winter knowing your home is better prepared for the season ahead.