If you have an older home, chances are you've encountered weather-related damage to some parts of your house.  Whether it's your roof, siding or windows, a torrential rainfall with high winds are sure to test your home's exterior.

If you have an older home, or if you're just looking for ways to make your home safer and more resilient to harsh weather, we have a few tips to get you started.

Making Your Older Home More Resilient To The Elements

Check Your Gutters

Check Your Pipes

Check Your Windows

As you can imagine, water leaks in your home can be dangerous and expensive.  In most cases, you have to work with the flow of the rain to the best of your home’s design. You can guide the rain in certain directions and pathways through the use of a gutter system.  Having a complete gutter system, including splash blocks, prevents standing water that can damage your roof, foundation or walls of your basement.  And while it's important to have a gutter system for rain runoff from the roof, you'll need a downspout, or drain, to guide rainwater away from your house.

Don't forget to clean your gutters at least once a year (preferably in late fall).  Make sure your gutters are free and clear of any debris that could hinder rain runoff, and consider installing leaf guards to keep your gutters clear of debris in the future. 

Raptor Gutter Guard | Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh, Contractor-Grade, DIY Gutter Cover. Fits Any Roof or Gutter Type – 48ft to a Box. Fits a Standard 5" Gutter.

While we're on the subject of water in your home, we'd be remiss if we didn't advise that you check your water pipes as well.  If you own a home built before the 1960s, chances are you have galvanized or even lead pipes running throughout your home.  These pipes could rust and erode and eventually burst.

What to do if you're faced with a burst or broken water pipe?  Turn off the water main immediately, as well as the electricity to the room you found the leak in (say, the kitchen or a bathroom).  Open a faucet slightly to relieve any pressure that might be built up in your pipes, then call a plumber ASAP. 

If you have water damage, speak to specialists that know their way around water damage restoration. They can come and assess the damage and provide you with all of the necessary information you'll need for your insurance claim.

One of the most charming aspects of owning an older home are their features:  hardwood floors, genuine wood trim and millwork and if you're lucky, lovely stained glass windows and doors.

But stained glass windows are just about the only original windows you should still have in your older home.  Newer windows are more energy efficient and better made, with double and triple glaze over the single glaze of yore.

If you haven't updated the windows in your older home yet, definitely put it on your home remodeling to-do list.  With newer models mimicking older styles, you'll save money on your heating and cooling costs without sacrificing beauty.

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There are a lot of benefits to owning an older home, as they are charming and durable and as they say, "they don't make 'em like they used to".  But an older home does require upkeep and maintenance, especially when it comes to inclement weather.

We hope these tips help you when it comes to maintaining your older home.

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