With winter fast approaching and frigid temperatures not far behind, many folks have undoubtedly already begun the countdown until the warmer weather arrives next spring. But just because we have traded in our swimsuits and towels for sweaters and blankets, it's important that homeowners don't simply slip into hibernation, but rather make sure their property is well-positioned to survive the season's harsh conditions.

Whether having your roof, gutters or siding inspected, ensuring your windows and entry doors are properly sealed, having your chimney serviced or tending to your landscaping, there is no shortage of areas to address before Old Man Winter rears his head.

House & Home spoke with some area experts to gain advice on what boxes you should be marking off from your winterizing checklist. No matter what your home's needs may be, taking a proactive approach can be the difference between a small issue and a massive headache.

Why is now an ideal time to take stock of the exterior of your home and identify potential issues?
Late fall is hands down the smartest time to walk the perimeter of your house with a critical eye. A lot of the leaves are down, so you can spot siding that's cupped, cracked or pulling away from the wall. You can also spot curled or missing roof shingles. You'll want to look for daylight peeking through window or door gaps that will become expensive heat leaks once temperatures drop.

A quick visual check now can prevent small issues from becoming larger issues in a couple months.
—Mike Chapman, owner and president, Chapman Windows Doors & Siding

What are some of the key areas that you try and make homeowners aware of with regard to winterizing their home?
When it comes to winterizing your home, the key is to stop heat loss. The U.S. Department of Energy says that drafts can waste 5-to-30% of energy use. Take time to inspect your house.

Repairing or replacing windows, doors, siding or your roof can help you reduce heat loss and stop larger problems from developing. In the long run, these proactive fixes stop rot, mold and structural decay that can lead to larger repairs or replacements down the line.
—Mike Chapman

How important is it to have your roof assessed before winter weather arrives, especially if it's on the older side?
Having your roof inspected before winter is especially important if it's older or showing signs of wear. Snow, ice and freezing temperatures can worsen small problems like cracks, curling or missing shingles, leading to leaks and costly damage. An inspection can catch these issues early, ensure proper ventilation and insulation, and reduce the risk of ice dams and leaks. It also helps extend your roof's lifespan, keeps your home safe from structural problems and provides documentation for insurance purposes. In short, a pre-winter roof check is a simple step that can save money and prevent headaches during the harshest months.
—Jake Domanski, sales manager, G. Fedale Roofing & Siding

What are some basic tips to help prepare your landscaping for the season?
Some tips would be to cut back growth on any perennials and prune or cut off any dead branches on any shrubs or plants. Also, make sure to clean the leaves off your property. Oftentimes, people will allow leaves to sit on their property throughout the winter, and this results in significantly more damage to the lawn in the spring. I would also recommend a winterized fertilizer for your plants and your lawn as well.

With regard to plant material, any plants that may have died, it's best to remove them. You don't have to plant any replacements now, you can certainly do that in the spring. But dead plants—whether there are some issues with fungus or insect problems—if left alone, the issues can spread and result in more problems throughout the property.

Also, be mindful of pests in the area, deer in particular. You can cover plants around the property that aren't deer resistant with burlap and use some of the repellents that you can buy at local stores.
—Chris DeMato, owner, Rock Bottom Landscaping & Fencing

What should you look for with regard to hardscaping maintenance?
People will sometimes wait on repair work for hardscaping, like maybe a masonry step or a brick paver, and that's not a good idea. Water will settle under a sunken area of brick pavers or a cracked piece of concrete, and that water will freeze and expand, resulting in much more damage to your porch, steps or patio. And with brick pavers, you want to make sure your grout or polymeric sand is filled in as this can result in the same type of problem for your patio or walkway.

People see these areas in need of repair at the end of the season and think they'll just address it in the spring, but we recommend the customer [address them immediately].
—Chris DeMato

How important is it to have your chimney inspected and/or serviced?
Having your chimney cleaned and inspected annually is very important, even if you don't use it, because the freeze and thaw cycles in the wintertime can cause cracking in the masonry and lead to water intrusions inside the home.

A chimney inspection is not something a homeowner can typically do. Because our equipment is specialized, it would be difficult for a homeowner unless they could get on their roof to really look for and see things.
—Leon Ochal, founder, Chimney Scientists

What are some of the most common concerns you encounter with chimneys?
A lot of people don't even realize they have a chimney for their heating system. A huge portion of our business is preparing chimneys for your heater. So I would say for your average homeowner, just being aware that they have a chimney for their heater is good to know. And then, if they have never had that looked at, it's maybe time to hire a certified chimney professional to do a camera inspection.

If you live in a house that was built before 1980 there's like a 98% chance that you have a chimney for your heating system. And most people are not aware of that. So it's best to have someone look at it before it collapses on itself and carbon monoxide backs into the basement.
—Leon Ochal

Is there anything specific you have to do with regard to gutters to make sure they are in good shape to handle the winter weather?
Before winter, it's important to make sure your gutters are ready to handle snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Properly maintained gutters help prevent ice dams, water damage and extra stress on your roof during the winter months.

Start by thoroughly cleaning them of leaves, pine needles and debris so water can flow freely. You'll also want to check that your gutters are properly sloped toward downspouts and that all sections are securely fastened, as heavy snow and ice can pull loose gutters away from the house. Make sure downspouts direct water several feet away from the foundation to prevent freezing near your home, and inspect for any cracks, holes or damage that could worsen in cold weather. Adding gutter guards can also help reduce debris buildup and make maintenance easier.
—Jake Domanski

RESOURCES
Chapman Windows Doors & Siding
West Chester, Pa.
(610) 431-8898
ChapmanWindowsDoors.com

Chimney Scientists
West Conshohocken, Pa.
(610) 947-0475
TheChimneyScientists.com

G. Fedale Roofing & Siding
Chadds Ford, Pa.
(610) 877- ROOF (7663)
GFedale.com/Chadds-Ford-Pa

Rock Bottom Landscaping & Fencing
Belle Mead, N.J.
(732) 873-6780
RockBottomLandscaping.net

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home (November/December 2025)
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