Protect your home from the wet and freezing temperatures

Residents of Washington are seeing a winter storm at the end of 2008 that rivals the big snow storm of 1996 and 1997. The storm started last week with a good initial snow fall of 5-6 inches (depends on what part of Snohomish County you lived in) and has continued to accumulate.

Arlington has been getting a lot of snow with a friend living in High Clover receiving more than 2 feet and as of this morning it was still snowing. Cars and trucks are completely buried and the only way to get around is in a 4 wheel drive or with chains.

With the continuing cold there are risks to a homeowner. Roofs, water pipes, driveways, and even back yards all take a beating during long durations of cold wet weather.

Most people do not think about their roof until a problem arises and ever growing repairs can amount to thousands. But when the weather is bad, snowing, raining and the wind blowing is not the time to think about roof integrity or to make repairs. Start out in the spring time by clearing the roof of debris, cleaning the gutters and looking for possible damaged areas. Pressure washing, repairing shingles or tiles and staining can all keep a roof looking good while keeping costly repairs down and even make a difference when it comes to selling.

The underside of the home needs as much looking over as at the topside. Protecting the water pipes during the cold winter season is a must and broken water pipes can wreak havoc, raise stress levels and drain the wallet of valuable monies. To insulate water pipes from the freezing cold is to cover the outside water faucets with a styrofoam covers, wrap inside pipes (or in the crawl space) with a towel to insulate and to leave a faucet trickling at the far end of the house.

How about the front side of the home? Initially the driveway doesn’t seem like an area that would need protecting from the elements but like any other part of the home it can be affected. As the weather turns bad and the rain and snow begins to fall, concrete and asphalt driveways take constant punishment. Concrete and asphalt need to be sealed to prevent moisture from absorbing. Absorbing moisture can freeze and when water freezes it expands and can cause cracking. Sealing a driveway can save a lot of money in the long term and make your driveway look good for years to come.

Now venture out to the back side of a home. The yard is greatly affected by winter weather. Yards all around Snohomish County are collecting rain water, and right now extensive amounts of snow, trying to drain and to keep from flooding. Soil composition around the county makes it difficult to drain water because it has a lot of clay in it. Water tends to stay on the surface forming puddles and seeping into the foundations. In the summer time, installing a French drain to a yard can dramatically reduce the amount of surface water allowing grass to grow and protecting a foundation from water damage.

The roof, water pipes, driveway and the yard play a pivotal roll in the life cycle of a home. These 4 areas can improve or degrade the living conditions of a home, the comfort and appeal of a home and even make or break a sale of home. Using simple steps and actions will keep stress levels down and make things much easier long into the future.