Philippine Real Estate Broker

Two typhoons, Mina and Lando, hit Luzon today and it looks as though the winds are still going to get stronger as the night progresses. It’s a little rare for a typhoon to arrive at this time of the year. In case you haven’t prepared your home for the strong rains and wind, here are a few tips for making your home typhoon-proof.

Check your roof for rust. If you find any, scrape it off with a steel brush then finish off with sandpaper to make the surface smooth. Also inspect your roof for loose nails. If there are any, hammer them down and seal them with plastic roof cement. Finally, apply an anti-rust primer before painting your roof with a roof-guard paint.

The most important thing to do is to fix the leaks on your roof. Leaking roofs can cause ugly stains on your walls and can even flood your basement and damage the foundation. To prevent this from happening, clean out your gutters at least once a year. Patch up a leak as soon as you spot one.

Clean your gutter and make sure that they are free from dead leaves or debris as these could clog up your drain. After cleaning, use a hose to flush out the gutter and watch out for any leaks. Look for rusty patches and cover up the small holes with a coat of roof guard paint. If the rust ate away large holes, replace the entire area with a new one. Seal off your gutter with an aluminum sealing strip.

Before you string up those Christmas lights on your home, there are a few things you need to consider when it comes to safety. Here are some safety tips you can keep in mind while decorating your home for the holidays.

Check all your decorating gear before going up the roof. Make sure that your ladder is in good shape and that all moving parts (like the rope and pulley) are in working condition. If your ladder’s about to fall apart, don’t bother fixing it because it’ll take more effort than it’s worth.

Before climbing up, carry all the tools you in a tool pouch. Use only the tools appropriate for the job. For instance, aluminum ladders are conductors for electricity. If you’re stringing up Christmas lights, it’s better to use fiberglass or a wooden ladder instead because they’re non-conductive as long as they remain dry.

When attaching cords to the eaves of your house, use a staple gun instead of a hammer. It’s easier to use a gun because you’ll only need one hand, plus it’s less likely to cause you to lose your balance while you’re high off the ground.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when setting up lights, especially outdoors on wintry days. Lights, even low-wattage ones, can be an electrical hazard so make sure you plug them in a weather-proof outlet.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help for bigger decorating jobs. Consider making a trade-off with your neighbors and giving each other a hand for annual decorating chores.

Happy decorating! And stay safe.

Don’t let the cold weather catch you and your family off-guard. It’s essential for you to prepare for the winter before the first snow fall of the year happens so you can avoid potential problems your house might be hiding. Here are several tips to make sure that your home is ready for the changing seasons.

First, make sure your heating systems are professionally checked and serviced at the start of each heating season. You’ll also want to inspect the filters every month to see if it’s dirty or needs replacement. Also look into your heat registers for accumulated dust, debris, or lint. If you don’t know where these are located, ask a technician to help you out.

If you have a fireplace and intend to use it, make sure that it’s checked by a certified chimney sweep. This is to make sure that there are no cracks in your chimney or creosote build-ups, which is the primary cause of chimney fires. The chimney sweep also makes sure your damper is working properly.

To reduce your winter heating bills, increase the insulation in attics to your country’s recommended minimum. An attic insulation calculator will help you determine the thermostat you need.

Inspect your water pipes because they have a tendency to freeze while you’re away, then thaw and flood your house. Water damage is incredibly costly so to prevent your pipes from freezing over, make sure they receive adequate insulation. You can do that by putting on foam sleeves, fiberglass, or wrapping them with insulating tape. You can also install freeze-proof faucets, which can be found at your local hardware store.

Check your roof and gutter for snow, leaves, and needles. Inspecting your roof is very important to avoid expensive emergency repairs. Watch out for loose shingles or damaged mortar around your chimney. To avoid having to go up the roof yourself, you can use a pair of powerful binoculars. Make sure your downspouts flow freely; if they aren’t, flush out the downspout with a high-pressure hose. Finally, look for sags in your gutters as this will make water overflow and spill next to the foundation. You can repair this by bending the brackets upwards or installing additional support where needed.