With autumn soon upon us, and the nights drawing steadily in, now’s the time to think about doing those all important jobs to get your home ready for the cold spell.

 

Getting the exterior ready

• With the threat of rain, wind and cold temperatures, working on your home’s exterior will ensure your property survives the winter. Here is some useful advice on how to prepare:  
• Exterior paint and surfaces can quickly look tired and worn if they are not looked after properly. With plenty of daylight hours left, there’s still time to give the exterior of your home the fresh coat of paint it needs. Outdoor paint provides much-needed protection from the elements as well as keeping your home looking aesthetically great.
• Exterior wood surfaces such as window frames and doors need regular maintenance to stop them suffering damage or looking weathered. Sand down the surfaces, remove flaky paint and fill any problem areas with filler before weatherproofing with paint, gloss or varnish.
• Winds whistling through the cracks in doors and windows can leave a room feeling chilly. Check the edges of windows and doors and draft-proof where required. Replace broken letter boxes to stop cold air from coming in. Simple solutions such as these can also save energy, as well as money.
• Keep sheds, gates and fences looking great all year round by removing and replacing any rotting wood or fence panels. Weatherproof for another year by using a stain or varnish to treat the wood to protect it from the wear and tear of winter.
• If you have an open fire or log burner, consider investing in a wood store. Wood is hard to burn when it’s wet but, by using a log store, the wood will be kept nice and dry. It will also keep the exterior of your home looking tidy.  
• Check house roof tiles and replace any missing or damaged ones to avoid roof leaks and any potential internal water damage from occurring.
• Repair or replace any damaged guttering and check to make sure the guttering slopes in the right direction away from walls.
• Prevent clogged guttering which could lead to damp by trimming overhanging trees and clearing the guttering of muck and dead leaves.
• Give your driveway a thorough check over; now might be a good time to replenish lost gravel and repair or replace block paving to avoid bigger repairs come spring time.
• Secure external windows, gates and doors by replacing broken latches, catches, bolts and hinges.

 

Interior projects for an autumn refresh

• Want your bathroom to be a haven of warmth to keep you cosy in the winter months? Installing underfloor heating and a heated towel rail are two options to consider. Underfloor heating warms the whole bathroom and provides warmth wherever you tread, and a heated towel rail ensures you have warm towels - just what you need after a crisp winter walk.
• Make your kitchen the place to be in your home and fit that new kitchen you’ve been thinking about. Often the hub of the house, design your kitchen so that all the family can enjoy time together. Don’t miss out on your first Christmas dinner in your new kitchen - speak to one of our expert kitchen specialists in your local branch.
• Ensure you have a constant supply of hot water and heating over the colder months, and give your boiler the once over. Check your radiators for leaks and trapped air and bleed if necessary to make them work more efficiently. Simple health checks before Autumn hits could save you a lot of hassle should problems occur in the frostier weather.
• Finally, if you haven’t already, think about properly insulating your home. About one quarter of a home’s heat is lost through a poorly insulated roof. Although initial investment is required to begin with, you can save on heating and energy bills in the long run. Check whether there are any government grants or schemes that you can use to subsidise the installation.

 

MKM have a range of excellent products and materials to help you get your home ready for winter. Need advice on which products to use? Call our local in-branch team of specialists for more information or visit us at one of our showrooms. Find your nearest branch by using our branch locator here.