8 Old Home Maintenance Tasks That Can’t Wait Until Winter, According to Preservation Experts
Living in a historic home can be an amazing experience. The quality and craftsmanship often feel better than new-build homes, there are plenty of architectural details with character, and you have a sense of pride knowing that you're taking care of a home that's lasted decades or even hundreds of years.
Preservation expert Peter Galloway, principal of Galloway Preservation , describes this as "thoughtful stewardship," which can help homes stand for centuries afterward.
As Ellen Mirro, AIA , an architectural historian and a historic architect specializing in preservation, puts it, maintenance is absolutely the most important thing in preservation.
Late summer and fall are ideal times to address your historic home's maintenance needs, due to the seasons' "dry, warmer temperatures and more sunlight," as Galloway says.
But as you likely know, a historic home's maintenance is never truly done, which means that you might not be able to squeeze in everything before winter—and that's okay. While the warmer months are optimal for these maintenance tasks, Galloway says that most restoration work can wait until spring—except for anything that can allow water into your home.
"Roof leaks should always be addressed as soon as possible, particularly in northern climates where heavy snow loads can quickly turn a small problem into a major one," he points out.
Ahead, learn which maintenance projects you can tackle before winter in and around your historic home.
Clear Gutters and Downspouts
"Improperly maintained gutters and downspouts can cause major headaches in inclement weather," Mirro says. "A properly maintained guttering system will prevent ice dams at the roof and attendant leaks and basement floods from improperly directed water."
She adds that depending on how many trees are around your home, it's appropriate to clean gutters up to four times a year, but most people can get by with twice per year.
"Leaves or needles that have fallen in the autumn need to be cleaned before winter weather arrives," Mirro says. "The next most important time is in the spring to make certain that snowmelt hasn't deposited any surprises and the ice hasn't deformed or blocked the gutters and downspouts."
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Check the Roof
The roof is a key portion of a historic home, and it can be prone to wear and tear over the years. Mirro recommends checking your roof while you're cleaning the gutters.
She says, "Make sure every element on the roof is intact and secure. Make certain any debris that may have collected in roof valleys or near parapets needs to be cleared away."
She goes on to say that any missing shingles, tiles, or slates should be replaced as soon as you can get a roofer to your house.
Reglaze the Windows
"Repairing windows with failing glazing is a good task to undertake before winter to keep the cold out," Galloway says. "Failing glazing can cause window panes to fall out of the sash or allow cold air into the building. A full sash restoration may be in order, but simply removing the failing glazing and reglazing each troubled window for winter is a great idea."
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Look for Chipped Exterior Paint
Mirro notes that if any paint on the sash or sill is chipping or flaking, then it needs to be taken care of before wet weather comes. "The degree of paint deterioration and the condition of the surface will guide your maintenance decisions," she says. "Sometimes a good wash is all that's needed to remove grime or lichen, sometimes a better scrub and touch-up, and sometimes a full-on rehabilitation or repaint."
Galloway says that in northern climates, the end of October is generally a good time to stop exterior painting.
Update Exterior Woodwork
"Whenever possible, remove failing modern coatings from exterior woodwork," Galloway says. "This allows the wood to dry naturally throughout the winter and helps prevent additional deterioration."
Joshua McHugh
Clean the Chimney
In the winter, you'll undoubtedly want to warm up next to a roaring fireplace in your historic home, which makes it imperative to make sure it's in tip-top shape. This can help protect your house in the long run too.
"Have the chimney cleaned every year," Mirro says. "A dirty chimney can be the start of a chimney fire, which can easily spread to the roof."
Clean Interior Drains
Mirro says that if you have noticed any slower-draining sinks or tubs in the summer, spring growth may have caused tree roots to get into the sewer line.
"Make sure to clean your interior drains at least once per year," she says. "If a slow drain doesn't clear up after regular cleaning, call a plumber for consultation. A quick scope and drain maintenance may cost money, but it costs a lot less than the backup and flood that may follow."
Walk the Entire Property
Take a good look at everything around your property before snow and cold weather set in, but as Galloway recommends, ideally, do so with a professional, and make it an "annual tradition."
"Walk around your property with a trusted restoration partner," Galloway advises. "Take the time to inspect every inch of your building's exterior. Look for areas of rot, water damage, masonry deterioration, windows needing restoration, roofing concerns, and chimney issues such as failing flashing or deteriorated mortar. Take notes and prioritize what should be addressed the following spring."
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