Donald
Teuma-Castelletti
With summer pretty well at it’s end, fall is right about on the next page – and now’s the time to get your home all set for winter. With all the precipitation endured this summer, there’s no doubt you’d have noticed a leak at one point this summer, but if you’ve put off the renovations a bit too long, next spring could be disastrous.
In through the fall season, homeowners should start thinking ahead and on their exteriors.
Windows can let in drafts, pipes can freeze, eavestrough may need to be replaced and it’s always best to get going on the work sooner rather than later. Though the unexpected can happen, tackling jobs both big and little around the house will save money and a headache.
Speaking with Cletus Pieschke of Construction Pieschke, his biggest fall home improvement jobs have traditionally come in the form of roofing.
“This time of year before it gets too cold, or people that were kind of last minute – we’re doing roofing for them,” said Pieschke. “Or with [summer] holidays, they never thought about their roof till the fall.”
Nonetheless, Pieschke plans ahead for a fair amount of fall-time roofing work, even for those that may have spent the better part of summer sipping a drink outdoors rather than checking on their shingles.
“We always put in the schedule for that, because we know we’re going to do probably 25 or 30 roofs in the spring, another 25 or 30 in the fall,” he said. “We know we’re going to do approximately the same every year.”
As for how homeowners can tell if it’s time for a tune-up on your rooftop? Fortunately, that should be an easy one.
“Well if it’s leaking on their head that would be a pretty good [indication],” laughed Pieschke.
Beyond this, Pieschke said it’s better to get ahead rather than leave it all too late. If there’s something that seems not right or worrisome, chances are it’s worth a look from a professional.
“Most people are aware enough to look at their roof and say, ‘Oh okay I better have a closer look at this’ and if they can’t do it then that’s when they phone somebody like me and say, ‘Come on over, have a look at this and see what you think,’” said Pieschke. “Then I’ll do an evaluation for them and if it’s good for another two or five years well I’ll tell them that, or I’ll say we better patch it up.”
So while you’re busy trying to catch those last few rays of sunshine stringing in through September, take some time to check your roof and save yourself the headache of leaving it till colder days.
