WEATHERPROOFING YOUR SECOND HOME

Mother Nature is often our greatest asset, and our biggest foe. A prime example of this statement is at our house, especially if it is exposed to the elements like those experienced by upstate NY homes. From wind to rain, from sleet to snow, our home is forced to bear the burden of anything the weather throws our way. This makes the concept of weatherproofing particularly important. Not only does weatherproofing help protect your house, but it also helps protect the people and pets inside it.

The concept of weatherproofing is fairly simple: by definition, it is the act of protecting your home from the elements of, you guessed it, weather. This can include everything from summer climate, such as extreme heat and skyrocketing temperatures, to autumn, spring, and winter climate, such as blizzards, tornadoes, and wind storms.

Weatherproofing is by no means limited to the home in which you live. Second homes and vacation homes, like Sullivan county homes, need to be weatherproofed perhaps even more than a home you are able to monitor practically all year long. To get started with weatherproofing, consider doing the following:

Insulate until you're blue in the face: Now, it's possible to just skip the insulation of your second house or vacation home and instead insulate yourself and your family, wrapping your bodies up with Polystyrene. But, let's face it, that's a fashion no-no and it will probably, at some point, chafe. So, instead, insulate all of your homes as well as you can.

Insulation has two main talents: it keeps heat in during winter, and it keeps cold in during summer. Insulation is also economically feasible: it speaks directly to your pocketbook. A well insulated house, for example, will nearly always have lower heating and cooling costs. Insulation is important in the walls, but it's also essential to insulate the ceilings and floors, near window sills and foundations, and around pipes, vents, and anywhere else air circulates. If insulating your house yourself, there are a plethora of insulation materials you can utilize, all with both pros and cons. Consulting a home energy auditor or speaking to an employee at a hardware store is probably your best bet at making sure the insulation in your house doesn't insult your, your family's, or your tenants' comfort levels.

Seal all the Cracks: Whether it's wind, rain, or snow, practically all elements of weather look for a way to invite themselves into your home: the portal of their choosing is usually a crack or a break. A crack or break in a wall or a window, for example, allows cold or hot hair to seep in, making a house incredibly energy inefficient. For this reason, it's important to seal any cracks before your unwanted guests can invade.

Cracks and breaks are often most prevalent around windows, doors, and pipes. Cracks can be sealed using a variety of things: window film, door sweeps, foam sealant, caulk, or by simply training your spouse to stay in one place for a very, very long time..

Get New Windows and Doors:: Unfortunately, doors and windows, like most other things, don't last forever. As time goes on, they become much less able to keep heat in and cold out. This makes their replacement particularly important: what's the point of having a barrier if it doesn't know how to block. When doors feel more drafty, and windows look a little weathered, consider replacing them altogether. It may cost some money, but it will drastically cut down on utility bills by making your home energy efficient. It will also improve the value of your house, which will be very nice when you decide to sell.