Check Your Home’s Exterior When Decorating for the Holidays
How often do you examine your roof, siding, gutters, windows, and doors for signs of damage? These are easy chores to forget, but it’s important to know the condition of your home’s exterior components.
After all, they’re the only things standing between you and the elements when your home is sealed up tight for the winter. Hanging holiday lights outside is the perfect time to take a closer look at your home’s exterior. Here’s what to do as you decorate for the holidays.
Look at Your Roof
Your snow-covered roof may look magical this time of year, but what’s going on under that white layer of fluff? If the shingles are damaged, you could end up with water leaks in the attic that destroy your insulation and cause property damage.
Here are the signs it’s time to repair or replace your roof that you can spot while hanging holiday lights:
- Curling or buckling shingles
- Missing shingles
- Gutters clogged with asphalt granules
- Moss, mold, or fungus growth on the roof
- Missing or damaged flashing
- Droopy or sagging spots
Check the Siding
You may assume your siding is purely aesthetic, but it is an important barrier between your home and the elements. Pounding rain, driving snow, and the unrelenting sun can beat up your siding over the years. If it has seen some wear and tear, it’s important to act before the damage leaves your home vulnerable. As you look for an outlet to plug in your pre-lit reindeer and inflatable yard decorations, watch out for these problems with your siding:
- Cracked, warped, or rotten panels
- Blistering, peeling, or bubbling paint
- Mold or mildew growth
- Severe color fading
- Visible insect damage
Examine Your Gutters
If you’re unsure of what gutters do, try looking at them during a downpour or while snow is melting off the roof. Their job is to direct water away from the siding and foundation, protecting your home from unsightly damage and flooding.
Eventually, you may need to replace your gutters. Here’s what to look for while hanging holiday lights atop a ladder:
- Cracks or splits, causing water leaks
- Peeling paint or rotting wood around the gutters
- Standing water in the gutters
- Sagging or detaching gutters
- Puddles or soil erosion around the foundation
Inspect the Windows & Doors
Your windows and doors serve several important purposes, including providing a view, allowing for ventilation, and letting natural light in. But as they age, windows and doors can get difficult to open and close, become a security risk, and waste energy.
You see your doors and windows daily, but you don’t usually check them up close. So as you encircle your windows with twinkling holiday lights and hang a wreath on your front door, watch for these signs of trouble:
- Rotted wood frames
- Moldy windowsills or thresholds
- Condensation trapped between glass panes
- Cracked glass
- Broken or faulty hardware
- Missing weatherstripping or caulk
Choose Beyond Exteriors for Your Home’s Exterior Needs
Be careful as you set up holiday lights and decorations outside. If you notice anything wrong with your roof, siding, gutters, windows, or doors, turn to Beyond Exteriors for repair and replacement services.
We are a locally owned and operated contractor committed to meeting our customers’ needs. We prioritize your safety and satisfaction above all else, so expect outstanding workmanship, durable products, and reliable installation when you work with us!
For help with your home’s fall and winter exterior projects, contact Beyond Exteriors online or call us at (703) 830-0863 for a free estimate in Northern Virginia.