An Ounce of Prevention, Part One

FALL INSPECTION GUIDE, Part One
The Exterior

Summer is over and the time is right for fighting old man winter - sorry, Rolling Stones. A Frugal Yankee knows an ounce of prevention will save money, time, maybe some frozen digits and, in my case, a few poorly chosen swear words.

So with your blood pressure in mind, grab a pencil, paper,  flashlight, binoculars, measuring tape and a sharp eye. We're headed outside to take a gander at the back 40 plus everything else in between.

We are locating problems BEFORE they happen. We'll jot them down, then tackle them one by one until the snow flies. I do this every year and even though I am making a 'to-do' list for myself, there is something reassuring about getting the house ready during the change of season. Maybe it's why I'm a Frugal Yankee, somehow it feels right.

Start slow. Have a slow amble around the house and take everything in, not as you normally see the place, but with a keen eye for potential problems. Start with the exterior of the house, and ask:
 
Is there any chipping or peeling paint? Where?  Will you need to do some painting?
Are there bad clapboards? Will replacements be required?
Do the windows look secure?
Are the doors ready for a cold blast of sleet and snow? How secure are they?
What ever items you note, take some measurements if needed.

How about the roof?
Use the binoculars. Any missing shingles?  Take a long slow look at shingles, chimneys, flashing, eaves and soffits.  Look for discoloration, abnormality and anything out of place. Last summer, I discovered two shingles were missing from the roof. I also notice the mortar on one chimney needed of pointing. I'll add these to the list.  If I see anything else, I'll write it down and take a closer look later.

As you walk around, imagine twelve inches of snow - not an uncommon here in New Hampshire.  Also imagine running the snow blower. How have you sucked up a stone and sheared a pin?  For me, it's been way too often.  So be sure you walk ways are free of debris or rocks. Make next winter's snow blowing as simple as possible.

Speaking of the snow blower, prep it BEFORE it's too late. Here's a little tip, gasoline is blended for summer and winter weather. Make sure you have fresh winter gas for your blower. It'll start just a wee bit easier.

Before we leave the roof, the biggest pains are the gutters. They get clogged up. If leaves block the down spouts and are not cleared, water will back up all over the place. Gutter braces may need strengthening. You'd hate to have one fall down at the worst possible Murphy's Law moment. Backed up gutters invariably happen when between weather systems. Cold weather followed by a warm spell followed by a quick freeze can create all sorts of water problems - ice dams, leaky roofs, slippery walk ways. You name it, i can happen. What this all means is simple, spend some time on the gutters.

One last thing about roofs. Overhanging branches are bad. First they can break and damage the house. If they touch the roof, chronic wetness is a possibility. This forebodes serious and expensive problems. Oh yeah, branches are a great way for small furry critters to climb across and get into the warm, toasty confines of your abode.  I don't know about you, but boarders like squirrels and chipmunks are not welcome. Heck, they've never contributed to my heating bill. If they did, their currency would probably be acorns. My mortgage holder doesn't accept acorns, why should I?

Do you have any fences and gates? They sure look pretty and may even be functional.  But I check to see if any posts are listing. They require some attention. How are the gates?  A bad hinge may just mean the screws are loose.  The gate may need bracing to keep it square. If it looks like a stiff wind could do it in, jot it down. It shouldn't take long to fix, but if you don't....well, you know.

One area I used to over look was foliage and debris around the foundation. Clear it out. When that's done, you'll see your foundation better. My 1801 farmhouse is made of large granite stones. Cracks happen. Mortaring is a yearly chore. A tight foundation keeps the heat in, the cold out and it also keeps the varmints out. Did I tell you I have a chipmunk problem? That's a story for another day.

Another reason to clear foliage away from the foundation is to be sure clapboards or whatever other exterior doesn't get wet and rot. Remove leaves, foliage, sticks, whatever, to ensure a dry exterior.

I always say, water is my friend, water is my enemy. What I mean is, we need water to live, but water can be quite destructive. When you look at your house, think like water. I know that sounds a little weird, but if you can do that, you will see where water will flow. Water should flow away from the house and not find places to aggregate.

So when you look at the exterior of your house, check of water staining. Be sure the weather stripping is tight and caulking is secure.

Now that we've checked out the exterior and written everything down, a trip to the hardware store is in the offing, but before we go, did I forget anything? If so, leave a comment. I'd appreciate that.

Next week, I'm going down, to the basement. You'll be surprised on how much money you can save just by using an ounce of prevention. If you want a sneak preview of this, there's a podcast on our Frugal Yankee web site. Surprisingly, it's called FALL INSPECTION: AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION.

Until next week, thanks for stopping by and visiting with the Frugal Yankee.

Next week: Into the Belly of the Beast - THE BASEMENT