5 Outdoor Home Maintenance Musts for Fall
Use these tips to protect your biggest investment

We’ve all heard the Ben Franklin quote about house fires: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It proves true for regular home maintenance too, reducing the risk of emergency repairs, increasing the house’s value and keeping your family safer.
That’s why it’s wise to accomplish these fall outside maintenance chores now before winter sets in. Then do your inside maintenance, from pipes to windows and doors.
1. Clean Gutters. Because gutters
and downspouts prevent water from damaging foundation and siding, clean and
inspect gutters. Exercise caution if you don’t hire a professional, as this
chore often requires climbing a ladder, an activity which results in more than 175,000
accidents a year, according to the National Safety Council.
2. Check Siding. Siding can be
compared to your home’s skin; it must be intact and in good shape to do its job.
Take time to inspect siding for rotten spots, damage, dirt and paint quality,
advises the National
Association of Homebuilders. Fix any damage yourself or hire a professional. Once
that’s done, clean dirty siding with a pressure washer while wearing
safety goggles, advises Danny Lipford of Today’s Homeowner TV show, and repaint
sections as needed. Finally, trim back trees and shrubbery.
3. Inspect the Roof. Work your way around the house to
examine the roof, either by standing on a ladder or using binoculars. Look for
cracked caulk or rust spots on flashing; missing, broken (or curled, buckled, blistered)
shingles; cracked/worn rubber boots around vent pipes; a missing or damaged
chimney cap, and the presence of moss/lichen, which might indicate underlying
roof decay, advises the National Association of Realtors. Address any problems promptly.
4. Weatherize Outdoor
Faucets and Irrigation. Steps for wintering outdoor plumbing, according to
home repair experts, include removing hoses from faucets, turning off the indoor shut-off valves to outside spigots, and
leaving outdoor faucets open in order to drain water and relieve pressure that
can cause frozen pipes and bursting. If your faucet is not the freeze-proof kind,
cover it with an insulated faucet cover. For irrigation
systems, drain per manufacturer guidelines.
5. Fix cement cracks. When water freezes
inside sidewalk or driveway cracks, they enlarge, making for bigger repair
bills down the road. Remove loose debris from narrow cracks, then seal them with a
masonry crack filler that works with a caulking gun. Wide cracks require more work.
Of
all your purchases in your entire lifetime, none are likely to rival your home
in terms of price, so keep it in good shape. Taking care of small maintenance
chores now helps prevent costly and complicated repair jobs down the road.