The Effects of Fall on Your Home

Your home doesn’t age overnight. It takes time for a house to break down and not be as effective as it once was. We don’t always consider all the ramifications that the changing seasons have on our homes. Sun bleaching, ground shifting, and the ever-changing temperatures in Nebraska can affect your home and may lead to needing the assistance of a quality Omaha contractor.

The foundation of your home is underground, built into porous soil. Different types of soil expand and contract with water. During fall the warm, dry weather can cause the soil to shrink. The closer we get to winter, the water in soil begins to freeze and expand. This cycle of shrinking and expanding soil can damage your foundation. Soil doesn’t always get pushed upward, it can expand to the sides and cause foundation damage.

You should routinely inspect your foundation for damage so that you can repair any damage you find before it worsens.

Look for:

– A roof that appears to be sagging

– Any door or window that seems tight or is hard to open or close

– Cracks in walls, ceilings, or stairways, especially those on the second floor

– Gaps or cracks in your basement floor, interior basement walls, or foundation

– Large cracks in the soil around the exterior of your home

– Gaps around exterior doors and windows

Concrete can also contract and expand with changing temperatures, which can cause cracks. The concrete expands in the warm spring and summer seasons. The cooler temperatures cause the concrete to contract or shrink. When it rains, the water can flow into your basement through these cracks which further weakens the foundation.

While it is no surprise that you may use air conditioning when it is hot and use the heater when it is cold, the year is full of transition months where the outdoor temperatures can greatly vary. Knowing when to switch from your air conditioning to head (and vice versa) can be confusing. Although it varies from year to year, mid-to-late October is typically the best time to switch your thermostat to heat. However, with a programmable thermostat, you don’t have to worry about making this switch manually.

Freezing pipes are also a concern when it comes to the colder months rolling in. Take precautions as soon as a freeze warning is issued. Unhook outdoor water hoses, cover spigots with insulated sleeves, and keep your garage door closed. For a permanent fix, you can insulate your pipes. This ensures that you can not only reduce the chances of your pipes freezing but also help you save on heating costs.

Because the weather in Nebraska is extremely unpredictable, it’s important to see how these temperature changes can be a major factor in the development of your home. A few contributing factors to home breakdown include the age of your home’s building materials, previous water damage, and significant heat loss.

Nail pops are common during the fall months. Fasteners and nails may get pushed back out by the expansion of materials, which results in shifting and poorly fastened building materials. Standard caulking and sealants can also begin to crack or pull away, which can allow water inside and erode the area further.

Fall can be a great time to buy or sell a home. Many people don’t sell their homes in the fall and winter, so you’ll have less competition during these months. Fall buyers are also typically highly motivated as they want to get moved in before the bitter winter temps start.

Have you experienced any of these issues? Want an expert to come and take a look? Contact Siefken Contracting if you have problems or if you simply want to schedule an annual inspection for your roof. Our expert team utilizes the highest quality materials to ensure that our repairs will stand the test of time, so call for a consultation or with questions today!