FALL MAINTENANCE FOR YOUR HISTORIC HOME – Fall is here. This brings Halloween fun, Thanksgiving, fall abundance, and cooler weather. It also signals the transition to winter and harsh conditions for our homes. We have often repeated, maintenance is essential for a home, especially an old or historical one. Read on for your fall maintenance checklist.
Autumn Leaves. Photo by Greg Shield on Unsplash.
Autumn Leaves. Photo by
Take a walk around your property and determine what needs to be addressed. Here’s a list of common fall maintenance tips to get you started:
- Make exterior repairs.
- Look for general damage to your roof, siding, and foundation – schedule repairs before winter
- Inspect your roof. If you have a steep roof or a multistory house, avoid injury by using binoculars to inspect your roof. Common signs of damage to your roof include:
- Buckling, cracking, missing shingles – these should be replaced immediately
- Rust spots on flashing – remove rust, and if metal is worn through, paint with metal primer and metal paint
- Large amounts of moss or lichen – this likely indicates your roof is decaying underneath, so call a pro roofer to evaluate ($100-$200). You can also prevent this decay by laying a wood shingle roof on lathe rather than sheathing (modern approach) as air can circulate and dry out the wood
- Cracked or loose boot(s) (rubber collars that fit around plumbing vent stacks) – call a pro roofer to evaluate (they will charge $150-$300 to replace a boot)
- Schedule chimney cleaning and fireplace/heating system maintenance.
- Blockages in the chimney – cleaning the chimney (and furnace and boiler) are important safety precautions before turning on your heat
- Missing chimney cap – add one to prevent wildlife crawling down the chimney. You can find custom chimney caps at certain companies for non-standard sized chimneys
- Damper not working – look up into fireplace flue if the damper is not opening and closing, to see if there is an obstruction (you should be able to see daylight at the top of your chimney)
- Clean creosote buildup from your flue every other year – a professional chimney sweep will charge $300-$500
- Missing or cracked bricks in firebox – request a professional fireplace and chimney inspection if you see any damage (professional inspections run between $160-$500)
- Clean your gutters and downspouts. If you are not comfortable using a ladder, be sure to hire someone who can help with this important task.
- Clogged gutters may allow water to pool which can damage your roof or siding – remove leaves and debris
- Flush gutters with water, inspect joints, and tighten brackets if necessary
- Direct water drainage away from your foundation.
- Soil that is too flat near the foundation of the home may soak and cause leaks or cracks – make sure soil slopes away from the house at least 6 vertical inches over 10 feet to prevent this
- Check the foundation and entire exterior for cracks and gaps. Both animals and natural weather forces can enter and destroy your home. Loss of heat can also increase your heating costs.
- Cracks or unsealed areas – caulk around areas where masonry meets siding, pipes or wires enter the house, and around windows and doorframes. Do NOT use small cans of spray foam at wood contact areas – it will cause rot
- Conduct an energy audit.
- DIY – instructions can be found at energy.gov
- Professional – trained auditors can assess your current energy efficiency and provide a list of recommended improvements like upgrading to Energy Start appliances, adding insulation to your attic or adding more weather-stripping ***The caveat is you should pay for their service – otherwise their “solution” will be what they are selling, including replacement doors and windows which we do not generally advocate for older homes. Also make sure they are familiar with historic buildings and their unique concerns
- Increase warmth in your house.
- After you’ve installed storm windows and doors (and removed all screens) adding weather-stripping around windows and doorframes can not only keep your house warmer during the winter months, but also cut energy costs
- Drafty doors – place door sweeps at the base to keep the cold out and the heat in
- Shut off exterior faucets and store hoses inside.
- Shutting these off can protect pipes from freezing
- Drain hoses before storing indoors
- Check walkways, railings, stairs, and driveways for winter safety.
- Loose, slippery, or uneven surfaces – make sure to tighten loose railings, correct uneven walkways, and free drains of debris
- Check safety devices.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – replace dead batteries
- Check the home for radon (you can find radon monitors here) – with cooler weather, windows are shut more and radon can become trapped inside the home – hire a professional to address radon issues
- Check expiration dates on all fire extinguishers – replace if expired
For further resources and reading: