Protecting Your Home from the Elements

Order of contents

Introduction

Winter Weather Damage

Summer Weather Damage

DIY Options

Energy Matters

The Payoff

Resources

Introduction

A home is so much more than mere shelter. It's a gathering place for a family,

a place where memories are made, a space for relaxation, jubilation and

comfort.

Clearly, the home represents more than a mere physical structure - though

when that physical structure is threatened, so too is its greater purpose.

Thus, a home needs protecting. As is often the case, taking preventative

action against weather damage can payoff greatly.

Here's our brief guide on how to protect your home from the elements:

Winter Weather Damage

When it comes to weather damage - particularly for British homes -

wintertime is the worst. Snow, rain, wind and everything in between can

wreak havoc on the component elements of a house or flat. Some of the

most common examples of winter weather damage include:

Roof Damage

After a hearty snowfall, it's not uncommon for home to incur roof damage.

As the snow accumulates atop a roof, the weight of it can cause the

structure to crack or fall-in. In addition, the snow can melt, resulting in water

damage and leaks.

Water Damage

Water damage from flooding or snow accumulation against exterior walls can

lead to moulding and rot. In severe cases, this can cause dangerous structural

damage to the home.

Frozen Pipes

On those cold winter nights when the temperature drops below freezing, the

standing water in its pipes can turn to ice, causing them to crack or burst.

Sun Weather Damage

There are two reasons why sun damage to homes isn't discussed often in the

UK. Firstly, many UK homes are made of stone or concrete, materials which

typically do well in sunny weather. Secondly, Britain isn't necessarily known

for its sunshine.

However, over time the sun's exposure can cause damage to British homes,

particularly any which feature wood components like porches, decks, wood

siding, wooden window frames and wooden shingles. The sun's UV rays will

attack the natural fibres in wood just as they do to your skin after a day of

too much sunbathing. These harmful rays break the wood's finish, causing

cracks and splintering. To make matters worse, when moisture gets into

these cracks, it causes the wood to mould and rot.

According to DIY home expert Danny Lipford, the sun's exposure can also

damage any vinyl components of your home - such as vinyl siding,

downspouts, gutters or overhangs. The sun causes this hard plastic material

to oxidise, quickening the aging process and causing a dirty, yellowish

appearance.

DIY Options

Frozen Pipes

There are a lot of preventative techniques you can employ to prevent your

pipes from freezing in cold weather. According to The Weather Channel,

homeowners can use the following DIY techniques:

Cover any exposed pipes with insulating sleeves

Plug-up all cracks in your home's exterior walls and foundation with

caulking

Run water from your tap in a slow trickle at all times to keep water

flowing through the pipes (and thus, less likely to freeze)

Open cabinet doors so that the home's warm air can warm the

exposed pipes

Water/Sun/Snow Damage

To protect the wooden components of your home from sun damage as well

as winter weather damage, staining will do the trick. Before applying the

wood stain, make sure the wood is aged enough to easily absorb water

(wood that's too new will not yet be able to absorb the water and therefore

the staining will be ineffective).

Clear any surface dirt/debris off the wood and clean it with a concentrated

wood cleaner and a push brush. Depending on the staining product you're

using, it's likely that you will have to wait for the wood to dry before staining.

Once dry, proceed with brushing or spraying on the stain.

For sun damage to any vinyl components, you can use a simple vinyl cleaner

to help protect it and to clear-up any aesthetic damage from oxidisation. You

may already own one of these spray bottles for cleaning the inside of your

car, otherwise you can consult your local DIY shop for cleaners that are

made specifically for vinyl siding.

To prevent structural damage and water damage causes by snow

accumulation, it's important to remove the snow before it can gather along

exterior walls and the roof. However, when it comes to removing snow from

a roof, it's best to hire an expert - as is a dangerous job that requires

professional skills and equipment.

Energy Matters

The exterior of your house isn't the only aspect of your home that needs

protection from the elements. Your home's interior - specifically its heating

and cooling systems - also need looking after.

The winter brings with it cold temperatures and short, dark days. The

summertime, though usually highly-anticipated, means increased exposure to

the sun's damaging UV rays. Fortunately, your home can be a warm, cosy

retreat from the winter weather as well as a cool sanctuary during those

extra hot summer days. To ensure it's the oasis you want it to be, heed the

following tips:

Get your boiler serviced every year. By maintaining your boiler with

regular check-ups by an engineer, you can avoid breakdowns during

those cold winter months and expensive repair fees.

Install double-glazed windows to keep the warm air inside during the

wintertime and the cool air in during summertime.

Install an air-conditioning system if you live in a warm-weather climate.

Though probably unnecessary in the UK, air-conditioning systems are

very useful if you live in warmer climate or perhaps have a holiday

home in a warm-weather country. However, to save on electricity, you

may want to consider alternatives to electric air conditioning systems,

such as geothermal heat pumps or solar powered air conditioning.

The Payoff

Protecting your home from the elements will help ensure it fulfils both its

structural and domestic purpose. However, there's another key reason why

protecting your home from weather damage is so important - it will save you

money!

The cost of repairing water damage or structural damage caused by snow,

broken pipes and UV rays usually far exceeds the cost of prevention

measures. For example, a tin of decking stain will cost you around £15.99,

while purchasing a new DIY decking kit will cost you around £499.99 - which

would you prefer?

Resources

The Weather Channel

Danny Lipford

Rafter Tales

Which?

Ecomagination