Give Your Home a Quick Fall Inspection

There’s no getting around it, summer is over, folks!

Kick Out Flashing

A good solid flashing system is your best defense against moisture issues and water damage.

It’s time to start preparing your home for the fall and winter seasons. If you survived heat and hailstorms that frequent the Colorado’s spring and summer, you know there are more problems lurking around every corner once the temperatures begin to drop…as well as the thousands of fall leaves that will start clogging your gutters, putting pressure on your home’s flashing system.

Right now the trees are covered in red, gold and yellow but by mid October the leaves will dance through the air, pirouetting slowly into your gutters. It’s a pretty sight to see, but before you head to the many Colorado leaf peeping (yes, that’s a thing) spots take a moment to check your gutters, downspouts and flashing to make sure they are ready to take on the next few seasons.

A good flashing system is your best defense against moisture issues and water damage

Look for any broken, cracked or rusted areas and replace the parts that need replacing. A good flashing system is the easiest way to protect your home from unwanted moisture damage. Brackets may also need to be tightened. Sure, your gutters are nice and clean now, but what happens when the wind starts to blow and the leaves, twigs, dirt and water fill your gutters to the brim? Will they remain solid and strong, or will they buckle under the pressure?

Clean your gutters and make sure they can handle the pressure of the fall and winter months.

Clean your gutters and make sure they can handle the pressure of the fall and winter months.

Make sure that your downspouts are held tightly in place and extend far enough away from your home so you’re not just directing water straight down into your foundation.

Protect your foundation from standing water

Speaking of your foundation, make sure that the soil leading up to your foundation is sloped so that water will float away from your home. Water buildup around your foundation can lead to cracks, which lead to serious water damage, which leads to expensive structural repairs.

Just like you want to protect and keep your foundation strong, you also want to check your roof to make sure there aren’t missing, cracked or damaged shingles that can cause similar water damage as water may flow from the missing shingle straight into your unprotected walls.

Prepping your home for fall and giving your home a quick exterior inspection will help prevent serious issues in the future. At best, you spend an hour or two playing with your tool kit, tightening a few loose screws. At worst you catch a problem before it becomes too serious. Either way, you can ease into fall with a clear mind and a happy home.