back of house after painting, with snow

10 Unusual Ideas to Prepare Your Home for Winter, so take note!

When autumn is nearing its end, it is time to prepare for winter.

This usually involves stocking up on firewood, replacing summer clothes for winter ones, or checking the central heating system.

However, did you know that there are other structural changes that you can make to your home to prepare it for the harsh weather conditions winter may bring?

At NPA, we can help you weatherproof and damp-proof your house to have it ready just in time for winter. Here are 10 unusual ideas to prepare your home for winter.

1. Weatherproofing

Most people rely on weatherproof techniques to protect their homes against structural damage caused by the harsh summer sun or rainy winters that could cause dampness in the walls and roof of their house.

However, applying a weatherproof external wall coating can also provide several benefits during the winter months.

Never Paint Again’s Weatherproof Coating for Solid and Cavity Walls

NPA has a range of weatherproof WetherDry wall coatings that insulate your home, preventing warm air from leaving through the walls, which reduces your heating bills and keeps your home warm.

The benefits do not stop there.

If you are looking for outside house paint ideas, remember, applying a weatherproof wall coating also eliminates and prevents damp problems, including hard-to-treat types of damp like penetrating damp.

Mould is not just hard on the eyes, but it is also bad for your health. Condensation occurs when steam encounters a cold wall and turns into a liquid.

Mould is a living organism that thrives in wet areas, so if you have a steady build-up of condensation on your walls, mould may thrive, causing structural damage and problems with your health.

mould on a house in Plymouth
(C) Plymouth Herald

The internal surfaces may be protected by plaster, and mould formation can be prevented by allowing air to flow throughout the home, but this does not prevent more severe problems like penetrating or rising damp.

A weatherproof coating can reduce condensation that forms on your walls because they prevent heat from leaving the walls by providing a protective layer.

This means there is less moisture build-up, which in term protects the wall’s integrity, all while keeping your home protected from harsh winter weather.

WetherDry weatherproof coatings are suitable for solid walls and cavity walls in traditional or modern homes.

2. Fill Spaces on Window Frames and Doors

You can weatherproof your home by checking your windows and doors.

Warm air can also escape through windows and doors, so checking the exterior caulk on window and door frames can help to keep your home warm during the winter.

Reapply exterior caulk if the empty spaces between the siding and window or door frames are larger than the thickness of a nickel. It would help if you also inspected the joints in the door and window frames.

3. Clean out the Gutters

If your gutters are clogged or damaged, water can back up on the roof or against your house, causing damage to the roofing, wood trim, and siding during rainy days.

Clogged gutters could also lead to leaks in the roof and ceiling, and could also cause ice dams, depending on where in the UK you live.

You can enlist the help of cleaning services to help you clean out your gutters in preparation for winter, or you can choose to do this yourself.

gutters and pipes should not have wall coatings

Look for damaged fascia boards and gutters and repair them before winter arrives. A leaking roof can also cause damp problems and moisture build-up in the home, so it is best to repair the gutters before damage to the roof, floor, and ceilings occur.

4. Inspect the Roof

While checking the gutters, it is a good idea also to inspect the roof. Look for loose, damaged, or missing shingles that may cause leakage from melting snow or during winter storms, which could also leave you with damp problems and moisture build-up in the home.

Inspect and fix any cracks in the flashing seals around chimneys and vent stacks. You may want to rake or blow off any leaves and pine needles accumulated on the roof.

These retain moisture, especially if your roof is flat and surfaced with pebbles and asphalt.

5. Turn Off Outdoor taps

Undrained water that remains in taps and pipes can freeze, causing them to erupt as the ice expands.

Begin by disconnecting all hoses and draining them. You should also remove any remaining water from the taps. Turn off the shut-off valve inside your home if you do not have a frost-proof outside tap.

6. Check the Chimney

In the winter months, people often burn fires to keep themselves warm.

However, the build-up of dirt in the chimney can cause trouble later, so be sure to check your chimney before winter sets in.

Ensure that your fireplace or any other heating appliance that uses wood, gas, oil, or coal is clean and in good working order. This includes the chimney and other vents.

Doing so can prevent carbon monoxide from entering your home and chimney fires from occurring.

7. Inspect the Central Heating and Broiler

Inspect your heating system before the cold weather arrives.

Problems with your heating system may arise after giving your boiler a break over the summer months, so it is best to catch any heating problems early before temperatures fall too low.

Turn on your heating system and set all your thermostats to the highest setting.

This handy trick can assist you in determining whether your heating system is operating at its peak efficiency. Once it is in working order, double-check the temperature of all the system’s radiators to check whether they get hot. If not, a faulty circulating pump could be to blame.

8. Drain the Irrigation System

You can prevent any damage to your garden irrigation system during the winter by draining all parts of the system. As with taps and pipes, an irrigation system that contains water could freeze. Once ice forms, the material could rupture, preventing your irrigation system from working again.

9. Complete Renovations

Any renovations on your property should be completed before winter sets in, as materials exposed to the elements could be damaged, and condensation and a build-up of moisture could lead to serious damp problems.

You can cover any unused material with plastic when seasons change. Protect walls and surfaces from damp and the elements by applying a damp-proof course, rendering, and an external damp and weatherproof coating.

10. Painting and Protecting Your Home

If you need to apply a fresh coat of paint to your home, it is essential to do so well ahead of the winter months to have enough time to dry.

It is also advisable to add an external wall coating for added protection from the elements. Exterior weatherproof coatings are intended to outlast conventional or masonry paint.

They were also created to outcompete other coatings, such as water-based coatings, and provide a durable and pleasing visual appeal that accompanies synthetic pigments.

Water is a common component of typical masonry paint, which does not offer the same damp-proof or weatherproof qualities as exterior coatings do. Because of their chemical composition, wall coatings are long-lasting.

Need a Weatherproof or Damp-proof Solution?

At NPA, we specialize in damp proof and weatherproof solutions for our clients.

We have a clear, damp-proof, and weatherproof exterior coating that works well for treating damp problems, water ingress, and cold interior walls, which allow heat to escape during the cold months.

This exterior coating is the most effective weatherproof service available in the UK and exceeds the services offered in other countries.

The weatherproof coating is also ideal for stone buildings because it is clear and can provide the benefits you are after without taking away from the natural aesthetics of the building.

clear coating weatherproof and waterproof stone walls

Our wall coatings are a simple solution to a host of problems, and you can customize your coating to include durable paint to suit your preferences.

The weatherproof coating is a gift that keeps on giving, providing your home with the protection and weatherproof qualities it needs for more than 20 years.

To find out more, give us a call on 0800 970 4928 or email us

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