The days are warm and that means your mind is fully involved in outdoor fun like boating, swimming, golfing and more.
However, the inevitable cooler weather isn’t that far away. That’s why Liz Jonasson, owner of Absolute Home Services, recommends planning your fall and winter projects.
From fall cleanup to necessary maintenance and repairs throughout the winter, ensure your checklist is completed. Better yet, get someone else to do it after you leave, so you can get a summer full of enjoyment while you’re at the cottage.
Liz and her team of professional handypeople can take care of the to-do list while you’re away from the cottage, so it’s all done when you get back.
“One of the most important things is to do a fall clean-up of every nook and cranny ahead of the winter,” recommends Liz. “This includes removing items that attract pests, as well as repairing and sealing cracks and crevices where rodents and other critters could find their way into your building to overwinter.”
Part of Absolute Home Services offerings include setting up heating cables on your roof to keep the snow and ice load down.
This is a safety precaution which brings several benefits, including reducing the amount of weight on your structure, reducing the risk of ice damming that can cause moisture damage, and minimizing the risk of ice or snow falling off the roof onto unsuspecting vehicles (or even people).
“The cables have to be up before the first snowfall, so it’s definitely an autumn project on the to-do list,” says Liz. “It’s also a smart time to get your dock bubblers sorted out and on an appropriate on-off schedule.”
Liz says repairs and replacements to windows and doors, siding or other exterior items are best done in the fall. Should that not work for your family, it’s better to wait until the spring and schedule a visit from Absolute Home Services once the weather starts to warm.
“In the winter, especially for cottages that are empty, we can be there and doing the odd jobs like changing out cupboards and drawers, working on drywall or ceilings, and other handyman projects,” she explains. “Plus, by having us on a regular schedule to visit, it can help satisfy property insurance requirements. We’ll even take photos and send them to you so the work and visits are documented.”
Though summer still has a while to go, it’s best to plan those fall, winter, and even spring projects now, before the snow flies and the opportunity is lost.
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI
PHOTOS SCOTT TURNBULL
