Protect Your Home

Winter can be harsh on your home. By Jan Leaf, Associate Broker, Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty

Cold Weather Preparations and Precautions

The cold, wet stuff has a way of ar­riving without regard for our busy schedules. It's not a problem if the only items on your to-do list are making snow angels and taking a nap, but if you need to clear the path to the car quickly - and drive off safely - it pays to prepare. Start with the right equipment and deicers, then stick to the time-tested removal methods of shovels, snow blowers and deicers. You'll be on your way - or back inside making cocoa - in no time.

Icicles hanging along the eaves of your house may look beautiful, but they spell trouble. That's because the same conditions that allow icicles to form, snow-covered roofs and freezing weather, also lead to ice dams: thick ridges of solid ice that build up along the eaves. Dams can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up and pour into your house. When that happens, the results aren't pretty: peeling paint, warped floors, stained and sagging ceilings. Not to mention soggy insulation in the attic. This can lead to losses in R-value and becomes a magnet for mold and mildew.

Getting the Car out!!

Sure, you've got to get rid of that blanket of snow so you won't fall on the way to the car, but watch out for another kind of injury: dinging up your driveway's surface. Not only are repairs to your driveway often expensive, cracks and crumbles can turn off potential buyers before they even step foot in your home. Here are some handy tips for avoiding premature wear and tear.

For asphalt, watch out for: Badly cracked or brittle material. Aggressive shoveling or plowing on an uneven surface can chip off chunks of asphalt. Keep shovels and snow blower or plow blades at least a half-inch off the surface. If your driveway is badly aged, consider repaving it.

For concrete, watch out for: Rock salt used for de-icing. The salt enters through cracks and corrodes the steel reinforcements embedded in the concrete, forcing early replacement. Use calcium chloride instead, which is less corrosive, and follow package instructions. If you have pets, read the package carefully as some deicers can be harmful to animals. Seal your driveway every three to five years to protect rebar.

For pavers or brick, watch out for: Pavers or bricks that protrude from the driveway surface. The tips of metal shovels or the blades of snow blowers or plows can damage them. Plastic and nonmetal shovels are your best bet for getting rid of snow. And when the thaw comes, tamp down any pavers or bricks that stick up.

For gravel, watch out for: Above-freezing temps. When snow melts into the surface, getting rid of the icky slush without disturbing the stones is nearly impossible. Get rid of snow when temps are low, and keep shovels and snow blower or plow blades at least one inch off the surface. Place piles of snow in one area so lost stones can be recovered.

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