The last few days here in the North-West of the UK have already been really cold. It’s not only made us realize how many projects still need completing before winter kicks in, but also reminded us of a few maintenance check-ups we like to do before it the really cold period of the year kicks in. Small defects repaired now, could save on larger (and more costly) repairs in the future.
- Roof – Check your roof for any loose slates/tiles. Even small damaged areas can cause moisture to penetrate into your roof space.
- Gutters – Check that your gutters and downpipes are free from leaves and other dirt. If your gutters are blocked, water can’t flow and could end up running down your walls damaging them and your roof.
We had our gutters at the back replaced about a month ago (before they were still the original cast iron ones), so at least we know that they are clear.
- Exterior Brickwork – Check for any damaged areas, holes or worn pointing. Bricks can break – that’s why we had our wall done.
- Windows and Doors – Check any seals and insulate any gaps you find. We also insulated the gap between the floor and skirting boards in our living room. We’d still like to complete insulating the other rooms (especially those where we’ve now sanded the floorboards) before it gets really cold.
- Boiler – Have a service carried out by a professional.
- Pipes – Make sure any pipes in your house (especially in unheated areas) are insulated. It can stop them freezing and also save on your energy bills. We insulated ours last year.
- Taps – Turn off the supply and drain any exterior taps and pipes. When water freezes it expands, so any undrained taps could possibly burst if they aren’t drained
- Chimney – If you have a fireplace, you have to have your chimney swept at least once a year.
- Smoke Detectors – It’s always a good idea to test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors regularly. We like to tick checking them off at the same time as winter proofing the rest of our house.
We just having one major upgrade completed before winter kicks in. We’re really excited and can’t wait to share!
Do you have an autumn & winter checklist for your home? Is there anything missing of our list?
Hallo!
First of all my congratulations…you are great! Great ideas, great taste, great skills!
I’m Italian, but I live in the Netherland…since I moved here I’m fighting against the cold!
I was looking for ideas about how to fill the gate between the floor and skirting board (our house looks like your house!), and I was thinking to use the acrylic silicon (the paintable) in trasparent colour. Did you have a special reason for using the tape?
Regards and sorry for my English :)
Your English is pretty perfect, Gilda! It’s definitely better than my Italian ;)
We used the tape because it’s much cleaner than silicone. You floor will move a bit and silicone will probably crack over time – the tape will expand and make sure the gap is always sealed. Also the silicone gets really dirty over time (we have tried it) and the tape is completely invisible.
We actually just posed about filling the gap, so you can check out how we did it here.
Good luck with keeping warm this winter!
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