Winter is coming: Essential tips to get your home ready

CapeTalk’s Clarence Ford speaks with DIY specialist, Angelo D’Ambrosio

Listen below.

There is clear chill in the morning air, meaning it's time to start winter-proofing our homes.

DIY specialist, Angelo D’Ambrosio, says we're likely to be in for another rainy winter, which makes clearing your gutters vital.

“These gutters get filled with dirt, grime and leaves and block the outlets.”

- Angelo D’Ambrosio, DIY Specialist

D'Ambrosio says if gutters are blocked, the backflow of rainwater can cause significant problems to your house.

In addition to this, he says you must check your roof for any damage or leaks.

Depending on the type of roof you have, there are different potential issues to look out for.

For a metal sheeted roof, the key things to look out for are issues with the screws, rust, and that there are no gaps between the sheets where water can run through.

“Any wind driven rain finds its way through those gaps.”

- Angelo D’Ambrosio, DIY Specialist

For flat roofs you will need to check your waterproofing and patch any worn areas.

If you have a tiled roof, D'Ambrosio says you must ensure that you have an underlay to protect your ceiling from rain damage and minimise rain noise.

Once your gutters and roofs are good to go, you will need to check your windows and make sure they close properly, that seals are still in place, and there are no cracks in the windowpanes.

The same checks will need to be done on your doors.

“You might need a stick-on weather strip around your doors to ensure that no draft gets through so your house can stay warm.”

- Angelo D’Ambrosio, DIY Specialist

Finally, D’Ambrosio recommends buying a smoke detector if you are planning to regularly light a fire or use a gas or paraffin heater.

Scroll up to the audio player for more.