5 Home Repairs to Finish Before the Winter

The Midwest is known for their four seasons. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Each season brings the need for home repairs, so let’s focus on the upcoming seasons as they hit the Kansas City area over the next few months. Homeowners normally have a “to do” list going at all times, which can be overwhelming and ignored if the repairs are of imminent danger. According to StaySafe.org, there are several recurring repairs and maintenance that should be done each month. We’ve highlighted 5 home repairs to finish before the winter hits Kansas City. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our local team. We all live, work, and give back in the Kansas City communities. We’d be happy to help you out in any way. 

1. Test fire and carbon monoxide detectors. 

   1. Take the safety of your fire escape route a step further with egress windows.
      1. In addition to the safety and protection an egress window can provide, the basement will take on a new look and feel. Benefits include:
         1. Safety Feature: Easy Emergency Exit
         2. Increased Natural Light in a Basement
         3. Immediate Return on Investment
         4. Additional Livable Square Footage (Adding an Office or Bedroom)
         5. Better Ventilation
         6. 1 Day Installation Process; Immediate Value

2. Look For Pest Issues Outside Your Home

   1. Staysafe.org reminds us to check your foundation for any pests that are digging under the dirt and soil. They can get in there and weaken and destroy the soil under your foundation. As the soil shifts, the foundation becomes less stable and secure. Does this happen overnight? No, but catching this sooner rather than later can prevent expensive repairs.  If you’re looking for a free estimate on your home’s foundation around the Kansas City area, reach out to PolyMagic’s sister company, PierMagic Foundation Specialists. 

3. Walk Around Your Home and Evaluate the Concrete

   1. It may seem like an odd “to-do” but it is actually a home repair and prevention that will save you lots of money, hassle, and liability should you leave the uneven concrete alone to worsen. Concrete is known to shift and become uneven in areas most commonly: 
      1. Sidewalks
      2. Garage approaches (where the driveway meets the garage)
      3. Porches
      4. Patios
      5. Driveways
      6. Pool areas
   2. PolyMagic continues to see the correlation between cold weather and concrete repairs. Homes, apartment complexes, buildings, and businesses have concrete surfaces that are exposed to all weather elements. Specifically this year in Kansas City, we’ve seen weeks and weeks without rain, causing the concrete to crack.  As the fall rains will be hitting the Kansas City area, the exposure of the differing temperatures and moisture can cause additional concrete cracking from frozen water expanding the pores of the concrete.  As a result of the cyclical freezing and thawing of the rain, snow, and sleet rupturing concrete is very common in this area. PolyMagic is familiar with the clay soil that is seen around our area, so we know how to handle repairs related to the concrete and the issues a homeowner can see. 

      Another factor to consider when looking at your concrete before winter hits is that Midwestern winters can bring ice, which is commonly combated with de-icing chemicals. The chemicals can cause concrete to flake and break off into chunks. The concrete crumbling can worsen uneven concrete and tripping hazards. Many areas of Kansas City homes and businesses can be affected by the settlement and shifting, including driveways, sidewalks, garage floors, steps, basements, pool slabs, foundation slabs, and more. 

      There are many concrete repair companies within the Kansas City area, but not all specialize in polyjacking, which is a process of injecting high-density polyurethane foam into the concrete. This is a more cost-effective solution compared to mudjacking, and can have many additional benefits. Continue reading about the main differences in mudjacking vs polyjacking. 

4. Check Out Your Chimney

   1. Why are chimney inspections important to do annually? According to Chimney Safety Institute of America, a professional chimney inspection allows an experienced company an opportunity to put eyes on your system to check for creosote buildup, flue blockages, leaks, cracks, damage, and other issues that could cause costly problems or increase your risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Obviously detecting any of these repairs is crucial to the resident’s family’s safety, but it is also important to catch the issues before they become worse, resulting in more expensive repairs. If the chimney repair inspector detects cracks and leaning in the chimney, foundation repair may be a consideration. If you’re looking for a free estimate on your home’s foundation around the Kansas City area, reach out to PolyMagic’s sister company, PierMagic Foundation Specialists. 

5. Check Your Gutters and Downspouts

   1. Your home’s gutters and downspouts are responsible for diverting water away from your home. Here are some easy steps to ensure your house is set up with the best water diversion system.
      1. Step one – make sure your home has gutters. The reason gutters are so important is that they direct the water away from your home. The typical residential roof can potentially withstand roughly 2,000 gallons of water. If your home doesn’t have gutters, all of this water will just sit next to your foundation. But gutters won’t be able to do their job if they are clogged with leaves, sticks, or any of nature’s leftover residue. So if your home rests beneath a few large trees, you should regularly check on the cleanliness of your gutters. PolyMagic also recommends adding downspouts that are adjacent to roof valleys.
      2. Examine the Patio, Porch, Sidewalk, & Driveway
         Gutters are not the only feature of your home that requires attention. Make sure to check out the angling of your patio, porch, sidewalks and driveway. More times than not, they are tilted towards the house which results in several different foundation problems. Carter states that a tilted patio “can shed 5,000 gallons of water against walls” from a heavy rain. One way to fight this tilting is by having your patio, porch, or driveway raised by polyjacking. This will help ensure that water is flowing away from the home.
      3. Inspect Your Home’s Land & Landscape
         Finally, take Mother Nature’s doings into your own hands. What do we mean by that? If you notice areas of your property that are on higher ground than the area near your foundation, rain runoff will end up puddling near your home. The goal is to have all water drain away from your home’s foundation. Our suggestion is creating a ditch that will be used to intercept flow and channel it around the house. If you’re not sure about the lay of your land and if it is causing problems, we can come out and inspect it for you and offer solutions.

We’ve outlined the 5 Home Repairs to Finish Before the Winter hits. If you have any questions or need any guidance on your concrete lifting, leveling, or polyjacking needs, fill out this contact form.