As the weather gets colder and the snow begins to accumulate, it is important to make sure your home’s exterior and siding are ready for the change in temperature. This not only includes making sure your siding and roof are sealed up, but also that your windows and doors are efficiently helping your house hold heat as well. A properly winterized home will make for a cozier and drier winter for you and your loved ones. Here are a few things you can do to winterize your home.
Check Your Siding for Cracks, Gaps, and Broken Areas
The first step in winterization is checking your siding for chips, cracks, and places where weather can seep in and ruin the underlying layers of your home. These broken areas may seem small, but they allow more damage underneath as moisture gets in and rots the wood structure underneath. Be sure to check your home’s siding thoroughly for places that might spell trouble.
Vinyl siding in particular is the most prone to cracking. It expands and contracts under temperature fluctuations. A good siding contractor can install your siding in a way that minimizes chips and breakage, but the material itself is not as rigid or strong as steel or fiber cement board siding.
If you have a relatively large amount of chips in your siding, or a number of areas where it is loose or leaking, it may be time to replace your siding. Rather than waiting for rot to occur, call our team of experienced siding contractors to get a free estimate and schedule a time to replace your siding. Also ask about upgrading to cement board siding. It’s highly durable, long-lasting, and weather resistant.
Seal Up Doors and Windows
Just as important as your home’s siding, windows and doors enable hefty drafts if they are not properly sealed around the edges. Check for any drafts around door jambs and window frames and add insulation and seals as needed. This helps minimize the heat loss and cuts down on utility bills. Some homeowners will also choose insulated curtains or window films to help beef up the resistance to the cold. These can be very helpful in cutting down on heat loss and drafts while boosting the energy efficiency of your home.
Call an Experienced MN Siding Contractor
At Elk River Exteriors, we work hard to make sure homeowners are ready for winter. Our siding installation team not only installs siding, but we also help advise homeowners on the pros and cons of each type of siding. This helps each family choose the right material for their home and budget. More than installers, we are your MN neighbors, serving customers in and around Elk River.
If your siding is past the point of repair and needs to be replaced, call our team at (763) 441-7240 to get a free quote and to schedule your new home siding installation.