From Calgary’s skyline to the golden fields of Grande Prairie, Alberta is full of beautiful places to call home. Edmonton changes with the season. Lethbridge brings small-town charm. La Crete provides peace, quiet, and strong community roots.
Across these cities, one thing stays the same: Albertans take pride in their homes. However, the problem lies in weather changes. Alberta weather can be unpredictable. If you don’t keep up, small problems can turn into costly home repairs.
Nevertheless, you can stay ahead of damage with a few simple steps. This blog helps to explain six important home maintenance tips to keep your home in good shape.
Why is exterior maintenance important?
In Alberta, the answer is simple: the weather. Snow piles up every winter. Spring brings rain and wind. Summer sun can be harsh.
There are always early signs, though, which lead to bigger exterior problems when neglected. For example, a small crack in your walkway can turn into a tripping issue or let water seep in. Also, loose shingles on your roof can open the door for leaks and water damage.
When damages grow, so do your home repairs. Regular home maintenance tips enable you to be proactive. Property inspections catch issues early, before they turn costly. Prevention is always better than a cure. Taking care of your home’s exterior saves money and reduces the chance of calling your insurance company to see if you are insured.
Essential Home Maintenance Tips
Tip 1: Inspect and repair walkways and patios
Start with the ground you walk on. Your walkways, patios, and front steps take a beating every year. Snow, rain, and heavy foot traffic can shift pavers or crack concrete over time.
When that happens, it is no longer about looks anymore. Loose stones and uneven surfaces can be trip hazards. A wrong step can lead to a deadly fall. This is not the risk you want for yourself, your family, or guests.
Even worse, water can start to pool in low spots. That water can seep underneath and cause more damage. During winter, it can also freeze, expand, and make things worse. All this can be avoided with routine property inspections. Walk around your home. Look closely at every path and patio. Watch for cracks, dips, or shifting tiles.
How to Fix These Issues
- Small gaps can be filled with polymeric sand.
- Uneven stones can be lifted and reset.
- Seal concrete or stone surfaces before winter hits. This helps block out water and adds protection.
These small steps prevent big home repairs later. They also keep your home safe and in shape. Your feet and your guests will thank you.
Tip 2: Maintain the deck and steps
Similar to walkways and patios, the deck and steps bear the rain, snow, sun, and continuous foot traffic. Over time, the wood can warp. Boards get loose and paint peels. Surfaces become slippery (especially after a long winter).
These issues can cause trips, falls, and water damage. To avoid this, check your deck and steps regularly.
- Look closely. Are the boards secure? Sand down any splinters or rough spots.
- Apply fresh paint or stain to protect the wood.
- Reseal exposed areas to stop water from soaking.
- Railing matters, too. Wobbly ones need tightening and repair. Paint protects them from rust.
For the steps (whether they are wood or concrete), they can shift, crack, or rot. Ensure to fix these problems early on before they get bigger and lead to more severe home repairs.
Tip 3: Check the roof
Your roof protects everything inside your home, every day and every season. It shields your home from wind, snow, rain, and sun. Still, even the strongest roof can wear down over time.
That is why roof checks are one of the most important home maintenance tips you can implement. Start with a quick property inspection from the ground. Use binoculars if you have them.
What should you look for?
- Missing or broken shingles. These open the possibility of leaks.
- Sagging areas. This could mean water has already seeped in.
- Moss or green patches. In such cases, moisture is trapped. This can rot the roof.
- Clogged vents or blocked gutters. This stops proper airflow and adds pressure to your roof.
Unfortunately, most homeowners do not spot these problems until the damage is done. By then, home repairs become expensive. You could be forced to deal with leaks, mould, and even structural issues.
Home Maintenance Tips to Implement
- Inspect your roof after winter or any big storm. Hail and wind can loosen shingles or crack seals.
- Do it at least twice a year—once in the spring and once in the fall.
Tip 4: Clear blocked gutters
You might not believe it, but gutters do more than you think. They guide rainwater away from your roof, walls, and foundation. That simple job protects your entire house.
When gutters get blocked, though, problems start fast. Water builds up and overflows. It seeps into your walls or pools around your foundation. This can lead to basement flooding, wood rot, and mould.
Leaves, twigs, pine needles, and bird nests can block gutters. They usually pile up after a strong storm or heavy fall.
How to Fix These Issues
- Wear a glove and remove the debris.
- Then, flush the gutters with water. It is important to use a pressure or garden hose.
- Watch the flow. If the water backs up, you may likely have a clog or slope issues.
Cleaning the gutters is one of the easiest home maintenance tips. They protect your home from top down and stop water damage before it starts.
Tip 5: Trim tree branches
At first glance, tree branches might look harmless. However, they can cause big trouble. In Alberta, heavy snow and strong winds can snap overhanging limbs. When that happens, they fall and may damage your roof, siding, or windows. Sometimes, they scrape surfaces or break shingles; other times, they let in pests or block sunlight.
To avoid this, integrate property inspections. Trim branches before they get too close. The first targets should be the ones hanging over your roof or near power lines. Also, trim in the late winter or early spring. Do it once or twice a year. These home maintenance tips keep trees healthy and your home safe.
Tip 6: Address weather-stripping issues and clear vents
Weather-stripping and vents are silent protectors of your home. Damaged weather-stripping around doors and windows lets in drafts, moisture, and pests. It also increases energy bills.
Vents keep air flowing and moisture out. When vents are clogged or broken, they can cause problems inside your walls.
Include weather-stripping and vents in your seasonal property inspections. Fix or replace damaged ones. Small steps like these will save your wallet from costly home repairs later.
MMI Insurance
In Alberta – things happen, snow, wind, rain, or hail. For this reason alone, you need a home insurance policy that will insure your well maintained home.
MMI Insurance is Alberta’s leading home insurance firm. We are more than just a property insurance company; we are your neighbours. We live and work where you do. Our home insurance policy covers homes throughout Alberta which includes Calgary, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Lethbridge, and La Crete.
Our coverage includes the following:
- Guaranteed replacement cost. Insures the rebuilding of your home if it is damaged beyond repair due to an insured loss.
- Additional living expenses. Helps with temporary housing costs.
- Sewer backup and overland water coverage. Protects against water damage.
- Home liability insurance. Defends you against claims if someone is injured on your property.
We go beyond the house itself. MMI also protects rental properties, secondary homes, mobile homes, farms or your business.
When it comes to your home, don’t settle. Trust Alberta’s best: MMI Insurance. Call us today at 866-222-6996, or contact us online to get expert advice and a home insurance policy that suits your needs.
Coverage is subject to policy wording, terms, conditions, and deductibles. Protection is limited to the perils, coverage, exclusions, and limits shown on the policy.
