Custom House Build in King Edward Park (Edmonton)

Fall is here! Although we are enjoying really nice weather for October here in Alberta, it is inevitable the cooler days are coming. Shorter days, fall colours emerging and spooky season decorations galore all mean that it’s time to prepare your home for the months ahead. Fall home maintenance, if you will.

There can be many tasks around the home when it comes to fall maintenance but for this post, we have curated a list of four tasks that we think are of high importance. Grab some sort of writing utensil and start your Fall Home Maintenance To-Do list! Let’s get to it…

1. Clean Those Eavestroughs
Otherwise known as gutters, eavestroughs are designed to collect the water that runs off your roof and direct it away from your home. Any clogging of your rainwater drainage system could potentially cause exterior damage (rot, settlement, foundation issues) and even interior flooding (rotten fascia boards, walls and ceilings, wet basement).

Cleaning eavestroughs approximately twice a year (usually in the fall and late spring) is recommended. Leaves are the main offender for clogged gutters so waiting until those pesky leaves have fallen will save you multiple trips up the ladder. Removing leaves and other debris will also deter small animals and birds from getting comfortable in the gutters and roof.

2. Inspect That Roof
Speaking of roofs, grab your binoculars and take a peek up on the rooftop! Look out for loose, cracked or missing shingles, rust spots on flashing or cosmetic issues such as algae or lichen. Inspecting your roof once a year could help you plan in advance for any necessary repairs.

Building Envelope Repair in Edmonton

3. Clean and Inspect That Furnace
If you have a service agreement with your HVAC provider, then now is the time to schedule a full tune-up. You do not want to wait until the cold air hits to ensure that your furnace is working efficiently so at the very least, clean or replace the filter. To note, It is best practice to do that on a monthly basis anyhow.

4. Check Those Doors and Windows
Windows and doors can account for up to 25% of total heat loss in a house, according to Natural Resources Canada’s “Keeping The Heat In’. Reducing air leakage not only provides comfort to those inside the home, it protects the building envelope from potential moisture damage.

Inspect doors and windows for any sign of rot, mould or staining. Inspect the weather stripping which to be effective, must not allow air to pass through. While replacing weather stripping is the most cost effective way to eliminate drafts windows and doors, you might consider upgrading to more energy efficient models. This would ensure maximum home comfort but could save on those heating bills too.

It’s also a good idea to check other entry points (electrical, cable, phone and gas) and eliminate any drafts if and when you detect them.

Although these tasks are relatively easy, hiring a professional can be worth the expense. They will certainly have in depth knowledge for specific issues and years of experience that will help correct a potential problem at the source. But whether you take these on yourself or hire a skilled trade, checking these maintenance items off early will help prevent bigger issues later in the colder season.

Happy Fall!

Roof of custom built home framed by Archive Contracting & Design

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful…

Winter brings a sense of wonder, coziness and comfort. Even though, we’ve been spending a lot of time within the same space for almost two years now, the home becomes more of a refuge in the throws of winter. But it can also introduce some weather related issues in and around the home. Through routine maintenance checks and preventative maintenance, you can avoid winter-related disasters, keep your home functioning at an optimal level and enjoy your holidays.

Now that Winter is officially here, it’s time to start checking things off the Winter Home Maintenance list.

1. Inspect doors and windows
   Feel a draft somewhere? If you didn’t catch this during your Fall maintenance check, take action now! Seal any gaps and cracks to prevent heat from escaping the house. Repair caulking around doors, windows and anywhere there are wall penetrations (vents, faucets, outlets etc.). Inspect the weather stripping on doors and windows as well and replace, if necessary. Each draft eliminated will increase your home’s efficiency and lower your home energy costs.

2. Clean The Fireplace
   If sitting by the fire on a cold winter’s night is your idea of the perfect night, give a certified chimney sweep a call to clean it out before using it regularly. This is a necessary safety measure for any wood burning fireplace since the build up of creosote and soot inside the chimney could potentially start an even bigger fire.
   
   On that note, make sure any fire extinguishers in the house are in good working order and easily accessible. Double check your emergency exits are left unobstructed.

3. Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
   This becomes increasingly important in the colder months when windows are closed and wood burning stoves and fireplaces are being used. Test, test, test!

4. Maintain The Furnace
   Change the air filters regularly. Clogged filters can cause the furnace to use more energy and be less efficient. To ensure your furnace is operating safely and efficiently, have it serviced by a qualified professional on an annual basis.

5. The Roof! The Roof!
   As mentioned in our ‘Prepare Your Home for Fall’ blog post, inspecting your roof can help prepare you for any necessary repairs. It is the first line of defence against the weather so it’s put through a lot. Not only check for missing, loose or buckled shingles but look out for cracked or worn boots around vent pipes as well as masses of moss or lichen where possible decay would lay underneath.
   
   Remove large amounts of snow from the roof as soon as possible and regularly clean the gutters. Keeping both of these things clean clear of snow and debris could prevent ice dams, leaking and any further damage.

Whether you love the Winter Wonderland that the colder season brings or you love to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa by a roaring fire engulfed in fluffy pillows and comfy blankets, the importance of maintaining your house is paramount. Although these tasks take time and effort, the warmth your home brings to you and to others, will be worth it….guaranteed.

Raised garden box made of wood pallets

As you may recall from our Digging in the Dirt blog post, we have a greenthumb or two on our Archive crew. In that particular post, we shared favourite things about raised garden boxes and the benefits of building them. But now that your crops have been harvested and winter is fast approaching, you may be wondering what to do with them.

Let’s dive into some simple ways to preserve your garden boxes throughout the colder months.

Dispose
Clean up any unsightly weeds and dead plants. Any healthy looking vegetation can be added into your compost to regenerate into soil that will be useful come Spring. Any diseased or otherwise, useless plants can be thrown into your household waste. Now that the Fall collection of yard waste has expired, you can add this waste into your green food scraps bin, which will be collected on the City of Edmonton’s update winter schedule, starting November 9, 2021.

Improve
Increase soil quality by adding a layer of good compost to the top of the soil. The natural process of freezing and thawing will work the compost in, creating a nutrient rich soil for the Spring. Adding leaves, twigs and branches as mulch will also add protection in the colder days.

Plant
The Fall is the optimal time to plant garlic. Getting the cloves into the soil before the freezing weather occurs will guarantee robust and delicious garlic in the Spring. Many types of garlic require exposure to colder temperatures in order to thrive - although since we are in Alberta, it is recommended to plant garlic cloves a bit deeper (closer to 3 inches deep) to give them some protection over the winter.

Prepare
Inspect your wooden elevated garden beds. Fix any surfaces in need of refurbishment. Those that are exposed to the elements can be sanded and sealed to extend the life of the planter box. There is also a chance that since this year’s raised garden boxes were bountiful, you’ve decided to increase the number of garden boxes in your yard. Build them now so you can focus on growing in the Spring.

After cleaning up, fortifying and preparing, you can relax and enjoy the winter reading gardening books, planning your next garden and dreaming about how to make your Backyard Beautiful. Happy Days!