How to Protect the Exterior of Your House

Your house is an expensive property that offers excellent value to you and your family. Because of this, every homeowner should understand the importance of maintaining a neat appeal to the interior and exterior space. Rodents, bugs, and other pests are good examples of some of the elements known to destroy the exterior of your house. You will find it easier to initiate protective measures against these elements in your environment before waiting to take action after they cause damage.

How to Protect Your House from Pests

There are multiple ways you can protect the exterior of your house from termites, bees, and rodents. Contacting a pest control company is the most common approach, and it guarantees professional outcomes regardless of your situation. This article features some helpful tips on protecting the exterior of your house from destroying elements, like pests and extreme weather conditions.

Minimize Mulch and Plants in Your Environment

One practical approach to keep pests out of your house is minimizing plants and mulch in your surroundings. Your surroundings include inside the house, on your front porch, and even in the back yard. You will need to trim shrubs or tree branches touching your home as they can act as bridges for the pests to get to your house walls. Companies offering tree trimming service can help trim the overgrown parts and improve the appeal of your garden beds.

Note that the fewer pests you have outside, the fewer pest-related issues you will have inside your house. That means that it is essential to ensure that the pests within your fence are always at a minimum. You can eliminate all the mulch found in your garden beds because these pests use it for shelter.

Seal Windows and Doors

Sealing your doors and windows is another approach that effectively limits the entry of pests inside your house. Most pets take advantage of the tiny cracks and gaps in your house’s structure to wiggle through and enter your home. To restrict their entry, you can reach out to pest control companies that offer house sealing services for professional results. You also need to check your doors and windows for any broken elements and arrange for repairs, if any.

If your window screen does not fit well, consider replacing it with its ideal size. A screen mesh also effectively protects your house from pests and insects; you will need one with at least 200 holes per square inch. Browse through the various sealing options available and settle on the one that guarantees the best results for your property.

Dispose Trash and Litter Properly

Did you know that trash and litter are among the top components that attract pests and rodents to your compound? These characters feed on food, leftovers, and other vegetable remains, so disposing of them carelessly in your compound will lead to them penetrating your compound walls. They see it as a source of food and gradually develop into a nesting place with time. To prevent this from happening, dispose of your trash at the designated locations and ensure your trash cans feature tight-fitting lids.

It would help to clean the dumping area regularly to eliminate the funny smell that will accumulate with time. When cleaning, remove all the debris and spills that may be a food source for the pests and cockroaches. If your dumping spot is already compromised, you can call the local rat control service to handle the infestation problem.

Use the Correct Light Bulbs for Your Exterior

The light configuration for the exterior of your house will significantly determine the flying insect traffic present in your environment. These flying insects are attracted to standard mercury vapor lights so, ensure your outside lights are either halogen or high-pressure sodium vapor lights. Other bulbs that are less attractive to insects include pink, orange, or yellow tints. Normalize placing your lights away from your house; position the lights on a pole along your fence to keep insects away.

Clean Drains

Cleaning your house drains is another crucial step in protecting the exterior of your home from gunk and debris. Companies offering mold elimination services are ideal for contracting to handle this task professionally. Since your sinks and floor are more likely to accumulate debris, they can provide a bedding site for pests and increase their population. Ensure you clean your drains regularly using vinegar or baking soda to protect the exterior of your house from pests and insects that may cause damage to your property.

Use Sealed Containers to Store Food

Most of these pests have an incredible sense of smell which allows them to trace food over long distances. If you leave your food in an open container, the pests will track it down and eat it. If the original packaging cannot be resealed, you need to store all your pantry foods in reusable containers with a tight lid.

Protecting the Exterior of Your House from Storm Damage

Pests are not the only thing that may cause damage to the exterior of your living space. Extreme natural conditions like storms also pose a significant threat to homeowners, with cases of houses struck down by lightning continuing to be reported. You can make preparations to protect your home from any damage during the storm, and here they are.

Yard Preparation

The yard is the first section to focus on your home’s exterior environment. Nature can use items left lying around carelessly in your yard as a tool to cause further damage to the appeal of your home. It means that yard preparation is an essential step in this process.

Clear all Unnecessary Items

You will need to put away your yard tools, lawnmower, trash cans, and any other items found in your yard when you know a storm is approaching. It is risky to leave items behind since they can become flying debris and cause more damage to your property. If you cannot find room inside to store them, you can cover them with a solid tarp and tie them down.

Trim Shrubs and Trees

It would be best to trim trees and shrubs within your home environment before a storm to reduce any expected damage. By clearing the excess branches and over-hanging leaves, you ensure the wind has less debris to toss around and wreak havoc in your space. The shrubs and trees close to your house can scrap your wall and roof, causing severe damage to the structure. You can consider hiring companies that offer tree removal service for better results and professional input on your current landscape layout.

Exterior Preparation

The current condition of your house and the protective features involved have a significant impact on how well your home survives a storm. The best approach to protecting your house’s exterior is ideal product selection and proper care.

Clear Out Gutters

It is essential to clean your gutters during the preparation process since you expect heavy rainfall during the storm. You need to ensure the gutters are free from leaves, branches, and soil that may cause blockages and water clogging during the downpour. Check for gutter cracks and consider investing in a gutter protection system to ensure your system is always functional and clear. Improper drainage causes roof, yard, and construction damage which is expensive to repair as you will require a professional foundation repair service.

Install Steel Doors

Steel doors prove to be an effective and fast-rising trend among homeowners within storm-prone areas. These doors are solid enough to prevent most elements from penetrating and are incredibly durable with good insulation properties. You can ensure the strong winds and heavy rainfall cause minimal damage to your home by investing in steel doors. On the upside, most of these doors have over 100% return on investment if you decide to resell the unit.

Upgrade Your Siding

Installing weatherproof siding on your house walls is among the best things homeowners can do for their properties. This siding guarantees all-around protection against extreme weather conditions and some degree of impact on your house’s exterior. Selecting the ideal siding proves effective in reducing the effects of storm damage and improves the general appeal of your home.

Insurance Preparation

Most homeowners view siding only as an approach to curb appeal for their homes despite playing a more significant role. The right siding will provide the ideal appeal for your house and offer protection on the exterior of your house. Here is how siding protects your home.

A house is among the greatest assets you can have, and picking an insurance plan is the ideal approach to protecting it in the event of a disaster. Since not all insurance deals are equal, every homeowner should get the best comprehensive plan for the lowest price possible. Browse through multiple homeowners insurance plans as you search for one that meets your needs and expectations. A comprehensive insurance plan should cover flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, fire, and other natural disasters.

How Can Siding Protect the Exterior of Your House?

Secures Your Structure

Siding proves effective in securing your house, interior, and exterior. If you think of your structure as a body, the siding can act as the human skin while the frame and beams can make the skeleton. This cover protects your house from strong winds, rain, and other harmful weather elements. Keeping your siding in good shape is vital to guarantee your home premium protective features and an outstanding appeal.

Adds Support

Adding extra support to the structure is another way siding helps protect the exterior of your house. Your house tends to get cracks in the walls, weakening the entire setup. However, siding protects your house walls from cracks by providing an extra layer of protection to prevent any damage from adverse elements.

Insulation

Siding goes a long way in keeping your house cool, even on those scorching days. It involves applying a thin coating on your exterior walls and effectively insulating your home. The thin material helps keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter without having to use electricity or other expensive approaches. It saves you on energy bills and provides a comfortable living environment for your family.

Prevents Water Damage

When it comes to preventing water damage, your roof, foundation, and gutters are first in line. Siding also plays a crucial role in ensuring water does not get into your house or damage the walls. Modern siding prospects are weatherproof and waterproof, meaning water cannot get through. If you find that your siding allows water to get into your house walls, it may be time to consider an upgrade since the current coating may be past its prime. One approach to identifying an expired siding is noticing increased humidity or moisture indoors.

Can Bees Damage the Exterior of Your House?

Yes, bees and wasps can damage the exterior of your house, primarily walls. Bees enjoy building hives within house walls with minimal disturbance from outside elements. The damage caused to your walls will significantly depend on how heavy the bee colony gets. As the hive gets big, you may start noticing melting wax, honey, and other waste products oozing through your walls and leaving stains. You will need professional bee & wasp removal programs to safely handle the extraction process if your home is already affected.

How Much Does It Cost to Renovate the Exterior of Your House?

The total cost of renovating your house’s exterior is based on several factors like the size and features to be included. The average cost of renovating your outside space is around $5000 to $15000. The figure mentioned is not fixed; the prices will change depending on the paint selected, features available, and the basic landscaping costs.

It is essential to invest in up-to-date and practical approaches to protect the exterior of your house from damaging elements. Elements that pose the most significant threat to your outdoor space include pests and extreme weather conditions. If you are keen on the information shared in this article, your concerns are already half solved.