We stay in our houses more than ever. Because of our current circumstances, we want our home to be the coziest it can be. Comfort also has a lot to do with how well our house was built because, if so, we do not have to frequently go out of our way to repair damages from minor to major ones.
Still, no matter how well engineered our house is, using only premium quality materials, it is still vulnerable to the changing environmental conditions. Often, this leads to the deterioration of our house’s appearance which, if anything, is an eyesore. But, you do not have to endure the sight forever.
There are ways you can preserve your house’s appearance. First, you have to know what commonly causes the wearing of your house and then keeping them from damaging your house even more. Read about them here:
Termites
Termites are the leading cause of the rotting of the wooden components in your house. You do not often detect their activity until they have done significant damage. Only then you will notice a bunch of their fallen wings and droppings within and outside your house. Other indicators of termite presence are mud tubes that somehow connect to the ground and wood that seem to have been hollowed out.
Termite infestation renders your house unattractive and prone to premature damage. While it is difficult to prevent more so to kill off colonies entirely, there are several ways to keep them from reproducing in your area. Usually, it involves the use of chemicals like boric acid or a liquid barrier, but perhaps the easiest to apply that also works to beautify your house’s perimeter is diatomaceous soil which is basically aquatic algae in their fossilized form.
What sets diatomaceous soil apart from the other termite-preventing methods is that it is non-toxic, minimizing any harm to your family. It can be applied both indoors and outdoors where they tend to crawl and, yes, even on the planters surrounding your house. What it does is, with its blade-like microscopic built, it incises the protective shell on the termites’ bodies and consequently dehydrates to their demise.
Bulging Paint
Another issue that commonly needs to be tackled around the house is that of bulging paint. No matter how well the house’s exterior was painted during construction, some walls get more regularly exposed to elements like sunlight and rain and may develop air pockets between the concrete and paint layers. The most fool-proof way to address this is by scraping off the paint blisters and, before applying a fresh coat of primer and paint, making sure that the bare surface is dry and evened out using sandpaper.
Still, you can spruce up your wall while making it more durable by installing natural stone veneers. It’s also a great idea if you’ve gotten bored with your plain wall. A natural stone overlay complements all house designs including rustic, Scandinavian, and cabin-type.
Watermarks
Rain is your plants’ best friend but is a foe to your house’s exposed walls. Watermarks are extremely difficult to remove once they develop and, even if your wall is light- or dark-colored, these marks make themselves obvious. As an owner, you want to be able to enjoy your humble abode’s comfort and style with the least amount of upkeep work, but watermarks get in the way.
Luckily, there is a way to lessen the need to rigorously brush your walls to rid them of watermarks and that is by installing drip edges on top of them. A drip edge is an L-shaped metal frame, one side of which you stick onto the topmost of your walls using a waterproof silicone sealant so that the other side sits perpendicular against the wall.
This perpendicular side keeps water from dripping directly onto your walls, hence, preventing watermarks from forming once the rainwater dries. Drip edges are super easy to install and, once they are on, you barely notice them, and they don’t disrupt the beauty of your walls.
Snow
Although winter is a joyous season for anyone, the snowmelt that comes after it usually spoils the joy for homeowners. For one, accumulated snow on roofs turns into ice dams and, if not removed immediately, can melt and clog your gutters. Just as bad is if the water leaks into your house or if the snow weighs down and damages your roof.
Approaching this problem proactively rather than with band-aid solutions will save you lots of energy and headache for when snowfall season arrives. And so, as early as the drier autumn months, check for any cracks in the shingles of your roof, in the area where the roof meets the chimney. The best-targeted yet convenient way to seal any cracks you may find is using a silicone sealant dispensed with a caulking fun.
Improving your house need not be a compromise between quality and appearance. There are several ways you can fortify your walls and structure that also improve their looks.