Prepare Your Wood Fence for the Cold Weather

Posted in: Better Home, Landscaping Tags: wood fence, wood fences, wood privacy fence, wooden fence

Putting up a wood fence around your property is a great way to distinguish the property line, keep kids and pets safer and add beauty to your property. Nevertheless, wood fences can be expensive so it’s important for you to protect your investment especially through the winter months. The rain, wind, snow and ice can do a lot of damage to your fence if you don’t take precautions to protect it.

Here are a few suggestions that can help you prepare your wood fence for the winter ahead:

Cut back any branches that hang over the fence which are dead or damaged in any way. These can break off when it snows or when ice forms on them and cause a considerable amount of damage to your fence.
Trim back any tall grass or bushes that are along the fence to help keep the wood from rotting.
Take the time to check your fence and look for any damage that may have occurred. If you find any weak areas, rotten wood, broken boards or any other type of damage, fix it right away to prevent further damage.
If the finish is beginning to wear thin, then it’s time to repaint or refinish it to help protect the wood from being exposed to the elements. Otherwise, the wood will begin to crack, wrap, peel or rot from the weather.

When you put the time and money into putting up wood fencing around your property it only makes sense to take as good of care of it as possible. Using these suggestions will help to keep your fence in good shape so you can enjoy its beauty for many years to come. It will also help to increase the property value of your home.

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Preparing Your Wood Deck or Patio for Winter

Posted in: Better Home, Outdoor Spaces

Many people spend their free time in the autumn getting their garden tools, lawns and backyard sheds ready for winter but many people forget about their decks and patios. These need to be taken care of as well so they will be ready for you to enjoy when winter is over.

One of the first things that you’ll need to do is pack up the furniture. You don’t want these items left out in the elements because this can cause them to rust or they may sustain other damage. Wash off all the furniture, dry them thoroughly and then store them safely away in your shed or basement. Now it’s time to start on your deck or patio.

To help keep that wood deck or patio looking like new, follow the steps listed below:

Clean the surface of the wood completely to remove the dirt and debris that has collected over the last several months.
If you have an older deck that has already been stained before, then you’ll need to remove the old finish so the new will adhere properly.
Look for any damaged areas and replace or repair these.
Now you’re ready to stain or apply a finish to the surface that will repel the water and help keep the deck or patio looking like new.

If your wood deck or patio is not properly prepared then it can crack, blister or peel the wood. The wood can rot, mold or mildew making it necessary for you to do major repairs later. It would be much better to protect your investment now than it would be to replace it later. Following these simple steps will keep your wood deck or patio looking like new so it’ll be ready to enjoy when spring comes rolling back around.

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Tips for Cleaning Your Gutters

Posted in: Better Home Tags: gutter cleaner, gutter cleaning

After the leaves turn colors and fall to the ground, it’s time to clean out those gutters so they can do their job properly. Gutters were designed to prevent water from running down the sides of your home along the doors and windows. They also prevent water from collecting along the outside of your home where it can cause foundation damage. Keeping your gutters clean is necessary in order for them to do their job and protect your home.

To make sure your gutters are clean and working properly, follow the tips listed below:

Gather together the proper tools. These include a sturdy ladder, bucket, gutter scoop, garden hose, rags and gloves.
Make sure the ladder is sitting level on the ground.
Never stand on the top two steps of the ladder to help prevent falls.
Never lean out and reach around when standing on a ladder.
If you’re cleaning your gutters from the roof, don’t lean over the gutters and it’s a good idea to use a safety harness to keep you secured just in case you slip.
Avoid getting close to electrical lines.
Wear gloves to help protect your hands and prevent cuts and scrapes and safety glasses for your eyes.
Use the gutter scoop to remove the leaves and other debris from the gutter and place them in the bucket.
Run water through your gutters with the garden hose to make sure they are completely clean.

Using the tips listed above will help you safely clean out your gutters so they can catch the water and guide it down the drain and away from your home. The more you do to protect your home the less you have to spend on costly repairs. After the leaves are through falling and before the cold weather sets in is the perfect time to take care of this important task.

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