Winter Preparation and Maintenance Tips for High-Traffic Areas

Winter Preparation and Maintenance Tips for High-Traffic Areas

Even if you wait anxiously every year to gather around the fire, enjoy a hot cup of coffee, and get snowed in with your loved ones, there is no denying that the winter season requires a little extra attention to detail in terms of home maintenance. Without the proper preparation, snow accumulation, freezing temperatures, and bitter winds will expose each and every weakness in your house. 

To put your property in the best position to take the winter weather in stride, keep reading as we explore some of the best home maintenance tips for high-traffic areas ahead of winter. 

Attend to Concrete Surfaces

Snow and ice removal are some of the most important home maintenance tasks during winter. Unfortunately, the first snow of the season catches too many homeowners unprepared and concrete sidewalks and driveways become veritable hockey rinks. Therefore, be sure to have snow shovels, blowers, ice melt, and any other tools on hand and accessible ahead of winter. 

It is also crucial to clean concrete surfaces ahead of that first freeze. Once inclement weather hits, finding a window to remove food, oil, and other types of stains can be difficult. Left to settle until spring, they can become permanent eyesores once the snow finally melts. Invest in a high-quality concrete cleaner with penetrating grease breakdown to ensure that concrete surfaces look their best once warm weather arrives again. 

Treat the Flooring

No matter the season, the home’s flooring sees the highest level of foot traffic. However, the winter brings with it melting snow, salt/ice melt, and sand that are sure to deteriorate the floor faster than normal. Therefore, one of the best winter preparations is to treat flooring materials to better resist the additional threats. Stain hardwood floors and seal polished concrete surfaces. Use a non-slip additive to lower the risks associated with melting snow. Consider investing in rugs for doorways, mudrooms, and other high-traffic transitional areas to further reduce impact on flooring materials. 

Upgrade the Driveway

As mentioned, cleaning and maintaining concrete driveways is one of the most important winter tasks for homeowners. However, there is only so much homeowners can do when the northern Illinois winter becomes exceptionally harsh. Constant snowfall and freezing conditions will threaten to crack and degrade even the most meticulously cared-for concrete driveways.

With this in mind, it is worthwhile to consider an upgrade to permeable gravel driveways. This innovative system uses a series of substrate permeable pavers to hold surface gravel in place. This allows the driveway to leverage the natural drainage of gravel with no risk of cracking or expanding. One of the most durable driveway options on the market, permeable gravel surfaces maintain their charming stone appearance winter after winter with little ongoing maintenance required by the homeowner. 

Invest in the Kitchen

Grilling and outdoor meals can be few and far between during the winter months. Even if your outdoor cookware is accessible amid the snow accumulation, it’s just not as much fun to grill in a parka and scarf as it is a tank top and sunglasses. This means that the kitchen will see an uptick in action as the family eats more meals indoors this winter. Put it in the best position possible to handle this increased usage. Features such as nonporous quartz countertops, energy-efficient appliances, and large farmhouse sinks are some great features for improving kitchen function and efficiency this winter. 

Fortify the Roof

By no means “high-traffic” in terms of day-to-day use, the roof is by far the most “high-traffic” when it comes to dealing with the weather. No other area of the home will see the gamut of high winds, projectile impact, and snow/ice accumulation quite like the roof. At a minimum, be sure that the gutters are in top condition and free of any obstructions that could increase the risk of ice dams. 

It is also a great idea to replace aged asphalt with impact resistant shingles to help prevent leak formation. Other key areas of the roof to inspect include the chimney cricket, drip edge flashing, and soffit. 

Ensure Adequate Waste Removal

An underrated aspect of home maintenance during the winter months is waste removal. Not only can wintery conditions dampen motivation to take the trash out, but the sea of holiday gift wrap and Amazon boxes can create far more waste than your trash can accommodate. Unattended waste will create a haven for pests to nest in during the cold weather. 

Furthermore, if you leave trash outside to get obscured by the snow, it increases the threat of tripping or puncturing a vehicle tire. As a result, it is a great idea to explore residential dumpster options to guarantee adequate waste removal this winter season. It will help keep your home free from clutter and reduce your workload once spring cleaning season arrives. 

Help Your Home Thrive This Winter with Meticulous Maintenance

Winter can be particularly harsh in the northern Illinois region. As such, you need to make sure your home is properly prepared to handle the inclement weather. From attending to concrete surfaces to ensuring adequate waste removal, consider any of the maintenance tips listed above to handle winter weather in stride. For more insights on how to protect your property this winter, explore the resources at Bee Sure Home Inspection Services for ideas and inspiration today!

Author Bio

Brian Jeffries is a freelance writer who loves sharing his knowledge and expertise on construction projects and materials. He lives in Winter Park, Florida where he enjoys spending time with his wife and working on projects in his spare time. Brian’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a construction industry resource site.