As the sunshine, heat, and pleasant conditions of summer come to an end, many homes around South Africa will soon be exposed to the icy cold winter weather. When you combine cold weather conditions with general wear and tear, it can damage your home. However, it’s nothing a little preventative maintenance can’t prevent!
Preparing your home for winter doesn’t just prevent damage, but it also keeps it in good condition and helps maintain its value. Not sure where to start? We can help! Here are seven of our top tips to protect your home from the icy cold this winter.
1. Check the Roof
If you’re not sure how to begin, start from the top! Check your roof for any leaks or potential leaks. Water damage can be extremely costly to fix, and you may end up dealing with mould, too.
Look out for any loose, damaged, or missing tiles or rusting and lifting roof sheets. If your roof is flat, check if there are any signs of blistering or bubbling. Inspect, identify, and treat potential leaks before the cold, wet weather arrives.
Doing these simple checks can save you thousands of Rands while keeping your home in warm, tip-top shape.
2. Clean Out the Gutters
Nothing is worse than clutter in the gutter – and autumn is a massive, messy culprit. Your gutters are likely weighed down by several months of leaves, nettles, and gunk, so put on some gloves and start clearing.
If you don’t clear them out, you run the risk of your gutters overflowing, damaging your roof, walls, garden, and foundation. The added weight can even cause the gutter to tear loose and fall.
You may think that winter rain isn’t an issue, and for a lot of the inland areas, it won’t be. However, coastal cities still experience 40 – 60mm of rainfall during the cold months, so be prepared. Remember to check for damage, including cracks, gaps at the joints, rust, sagging, etc.
3. Check Everything That’s Made from Wood
Do you have a wooden deck, porch, beams, or trim? Wood is susceptible to temperature. The hot summer months can cause the material to expand, while the cold makes it shrink. That can cause cracks, warps, loose joints, and other problems. Rot and termites can also be a problem.
To prevent damage to any exterior wood, it needs to be protected from the elements. If you’ve painted or varnished them before, do a quick check if the paint or varnish is still in good condition. If not, repaint where necessary with quality waterproof paint or varnish.
There is a quick self-test you can do to check if your deck needs a repaint. Pour some water on your deck – if the water rolls off or beads up, you’re all good. If the wood absorbs the water, it’s time to clean and reseal.
4. Repaint the Walls
A fresh coat of paint not only makes your home look great but it acts as a protective layer to protect your home from the icy winter cold. It’s also a natural insulator. Choosing the best quality paint that fits your budget is critical. Don’t hesitate to ask one of the paint experts at your local DIY store before choosing one. Keep in mind that good quality paint pays for itself in the long term. It’ll last longer, so you’ll need to repaint less often.
5. Insulate to Keep the Warm in And Cold Out
With winter fast approaching, we can expect a lot more cooler days and nights. While a heater might seem like the ideal fix, you can save on your electricity (or gas) bill by ensuring your home is insulated. If you already have insulation, make sure you don’t need to fix or replace it.
There are many insulation products available on the South African market that are affordable. These products include:
- Think pink aerolite (Fiberglass insulation)
- Knauf (Earthwool with Ecose Tech)
- Romatherm (Polyester insulation)
- Granric (Fiberglass wool)
- Isotherm (Recycled PET bottles)
- Fabufull (Polyester insulation)
Insulating your home can be expensive. If it’s not an option, make sure that you prevent cool air from sneaking into your home through trouble spots. Check your ceiling, floors, windows, and doors, and make sure that everything seals properly.
6. Don’t Get Caught in the Dark
When it gets cold in South Africa, we all immediately reach for our trusty, dusty heaters. While most of us use gas heaters to keep warm, many people use expensive, load-heavy electrical heaters. The use of electrical heaters and lights puts increased strain on the power grid.
What does that mean for the rest of us? Load-shedding! It’s good practice to be ready with backup power supplies like uninterrupted power supplies (UPS), generators, gas cookers, solar power, and power packs to ensure all systems keep running. If all else fails, don’t forget the candles. Don’t let the winter get as dark as it’s going to be cold!
Conclusion
We all know that winter days in South Africa can get extremely cold and, in some areas, very wet, too. With winter fast approaching, it’s essential to check the roof for any leaks, reseal all exterior wood, and repaint the walls if necessary.
Take extra care to check all the windows around the house for any gaps or cracks and repair them as soon as possible to keep everyone warm this winter. If you can, arrange to insulate your home or get a gas heater to keep the cold away.
Be safe, wear a mask and make sure to protect your home and yourself from the icy cold this winter from top to bottom.