10 Easy Home Projects To Tackle Before Winter

Winter brings many challenges that make certain jobs around your home harder, if not impossible! Getting stuck in before the cold, wet season hits will make your life easier so you’re free to relax and keep warm. Tackling projects like prepping firewood, gutter cleaning, pre-winter landscaping and insulating are just some of the things you’ll want to make a start on before winter arrives. 

As the days get shorter and you begin to lose daylight, getting your jobs done quickly is key. Hirepool have all the gear you need to get your DIY done smarter, and great hire rates to keep costs down. Check out our wide range of gear for all types of pre-winter home projects and pre-winter home renovations, book gear online and get cracking on these 10 easy pre-winter projects. 

In this blog, we’ll explore the following tips:

Tip 1: Get your firewood ready

Tip 2: Clean out your chimney flue

Tip 3: Tackle pre-winter garden and lawn jobs

Tip 4: Carry out roof and gutter cleaning

Tip 5: Get insulation and heating sorted

Tip 6: Prioritise temperature-dependent home renovation jobs

Tip 7: Upgrade your curtains

Tip 8: Don’t forget to draft stop

Tip 9: Get on top of your deep cleaning

Tip 10: Take care of house cleaning and rubbish

Tip 1: Get your firewood ready 

Purchase firewood well before winter  

Some yards will sell firewood at a lower rate if you are purchasing before the winter season which can save you a lot of money. Picking up firewood early can also help with your chances of getting the best dry wood, rather than having to settle for what is left. 

Use a log splitter to save time

Cutting your firewood down to manageable sizes is back-breaking work and can take many hours to get done if you are doing it manually. Hiring a log splitter will cut the time in half so you can get on with other projects. 

Ensure you have dry storage

Trying to burn damp or wet wood is near impossible, so before you go and pick up a trailer load ensure you have somewhere dry to put it. Clearing out some space in a shed or even building a DIY woodshed is well worth the time.

Hire a trailer so you can drop the wood close to your storage

Picking up a trailer load of firewood from a yard is easy, stacking it all when you get home is the tricky part! A high sided cage trailer is perfect for this job. Hiring a trailer and getting as close to your storage area as possible will save you time and the additional cost a yard would charge to deliver. Check out our guide on everything you should know about trailers before you get towing. 

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Tip 2: Clean out your chimney flue 

Although cleaning your chimney flue might sound like an optional part of home maintenance, it’s actually very important from a safety standpoint. 

As you use your chimney, debris can build up in the flue over time. If uncleaned, the debris can catch light and cause a house fire. 

Whether you get someone in or give it a go yourself, here are some good things to have on hand:

• Flue brush
  
  This special brush is attached to a long bendable handle which is used for dislodging debris and can be purchased at most hardware stores. 
  
  
• A ladder for roof access
  
  You may need to get roof access when cleaning out your chimney flue, so ensuring you have the right size ladder will make the job easier and safer. Don’t have a ladder long enough? Hire one from Hirepool. 
  
  
• A tarpaulin to protect your floor from soot
  
  Cleaning out your chimney flue is a messy job as the black debris will fall downwards into the fireplace, and can easily go everywhere. To help keep your carpet or flooring protected it’s a smart idea to put flooring protection like a tarpaulin down. 
  
  
• Gloves
  
  As you will need to put your arm inside the chimney for cleaning it’s a good idea to have protective gloves on hand. 
  
  
• Brush and shovel

Once you dislodge the debris you will need to clean out your fireplace so make sure you have a good brush and shovel on hand for clean up. 

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Remember to check your home insurance policy as some insurers require you to have this job done professionally for your insurance to be valid should anything happen. 

Top tip: Whilst you are tackling fire safety, now is a good time to check your fire alarm batteries and update emergency kits. 

Tip 3: Tackle pre-winter garden and lawn jobs

Muddy ground and rain-soaked greenery certainly make outdoor work less appealing in the winter months, and easier to avoid! Getting stuck in before winter will ensure your garden doesn’t get overgrown, and you can look forward to a quick recovery come spring.  

Trim back trees and hedges

Now is a good time to trim things back on your property, as dampness can accumulate on trees and hedges over winter which can cause decay. Hire a hedge trimmer to make fast work of it.

Use a chipper to make garden mulch

Use a chipper as a two-in-one solution to help get rid of garden waste like branches and hedge clippings, and make mulch to protect your garden from weeds settling over winter.  

Carry out weeding and spraying

A lot of weed spray products require you to apply the formula when the sun is out for it to work effectively. Rain is likely to wash the product away, so getting your weeding and spraying done now will help to keep those pesky weeds at bay over winter. Strap on a spayer backpack and get the job done smarter. 

Prepare your lawn and sow grass seed

Re-sow grass seed in any patches that were dried away over summer. There are also lots of other lawn maintenance jobs that you can get done now like pulling weeds and aerating. At Hirepool we have all the gear you need to get lawn and garden jobs done smarter, from lawn rollers, dethatchers, fertiliser spreaders and wheelbarrows. 

Put away or cover garden furniture

Garden furniture can easily be ruined over winter with rusting, mould and rot. Investing in a good furniture cover or finding a space in the shed will help your much-loved pieces last longer.   

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Tip 4: Carry out roof and gutter cleaning

Trying to fix a leaky roof or overflowing gutters can be a much harder job when battling the winter weather. 

Here are some things to consider with gutter and roof checks:

Make the job safer by hiring mobile scaffolding or a cherry picker

Leaning a ladder up against the house isn’t always the safest solution when you are needing to reach and be mobile. Hiring a mobile scaffolding unit allows you to concentrate on what you are doing rather than worrying about a potential fall. 

Scaffolds with wheels allow you to easily adjust your position as you work your way around the house, just be sure to follow safety instructions and lock into place before you use it.  

For two-story homes, it may be quicker and safer to hire a cherry picker or small scissor lift to check gutters and roofing. 

Consider installing gutter guards

Gutter guards help to catch leaves and other bits of debris to minimise clogging and make clearing out gutters much easier. There are many easy, self-install options on the market. 

Ensure downpipes are clear

Once your gutters are clear you will want to make sure water can run freely down drain pipes as well. Using a drain rat will unclog the pipes easily. 

Make sure your roofing is well secured

Over time roofing iron can lift, and even a small gap can let in a lot of rain which can cause damage to both the structure of your home and internal walls. Giving this a check over on a clear day will put your mind at ease that your house is watertight.  

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Tip 5: Get insulation and heating sorted

A damp or cold home can certainly make winter feel like it’s dragging and once the weather sets in it can be harder to remedy issues.

There are many ways you can create a healthy home. 

Check your insulation is up to scratch

The right insulation will ensure any heat you are pumping into the house actually stays in the house. If you own an older house without insulation on the external walls, it may be worth looking at doing this, even one room at a time. You can get professional insulators in to pump insulation into the walls, or remove wall linings to insulate and replace them. It’s worth noting that this will require building consent, but can be easily achieved with the help of a drywall lift.

Be sure to check what the standards are for home insulation if you plan to rent your property in the future. 

Many older homes don’t have underfloor or ceiling insulation, which is easy to install or update and can make a big difference come winter. 

Check if you are eligible for government subsidies

Sorting new insulation and heating for a house can be expensive, so it’s worth checking if you are eligible for government subsidies to help relieve you of some costs. 

Sort servicing for heat pumps and home ventilation systems

To keep the air in your home clean it’s important to get your heat pumps and ventilation systems serviced on a yearly basis. This will ensure everything is working efficiently and may save you some money on your heating bill too.

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Tip 6: Prioritise temperature-dependent renovation jobs 

When the temperature drops below a certain degree, paint won’t dry properly which can result in cracking, and all of your hard work being ruined. Along with painting, there are many other renovation jobs that are easier to complete before you have to deal with seasonal changes. 

Here are some ways to speed up your painting and renovation jobs before winter arrives:

• Hire access equipment
  
  Having good access equipment when completing your renovation projects will speed up the job and allow you to get in the right spot to ensure a nice finish. 

• Hire an airless sprayer
  
  An airless sprayer can cut down painting time hugely especially if you are tackling multiple areas, or the exterior of your home It can also help to give you nice even coats and minimises the need to come up and down a ladder refilling paint trays 

• Prep well
  
  Preparation of surfaces is key to ensure paint goes on smoothly and lasts well. Hiring a - wallboard sander  will cut down on time compared with manually sanding by hand. 

• Hire lighting to get indoor painting done in the evenings
  
  If you have lots to get done over a weekend it can be worthwhile hiring some floodlights so you can get some work done in the evenings. 

• Use a dehumidifier to get rid of excess moisture
  
  Some products like plaster and paint don’t dry properly when there is excess moisture in the air so hiring a dehumidifier is a great way of ensuring your project can go off without a hitch.

• Hire a floor sander for speedy refinishing
  
  Freshly refinished floors can give your house a new lease on life, and the job can be done easily with the use of a floor sander. It’s a good idea to do this job before the rain hits so you can keep moisture off the floor. 

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Tip 7: Upgrade your curtains 

Windows are one of the areas of your home where heat can escape very easily. Upgrading your curtains to keep the warmth in will pay off when winter comes.

Good quality curtains that are thermal backed and drop a decent length past the window frame will ensure cold can’t sneak in.  

Make the job easier by having these items on hand:

• Spirit level
  
  This can help to ensure you are hanging the rails straight.

• Powertools
  
  A drill is a must-have for hanging rails and will speed up the job.

• Measuring tape
  
  Be sure to measure your window height and width before making a purchase to ensure you buy curtains of the right size and drop length. 

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Tip 8: Don’t forget to draft stop 

When you start pumping heaters and fireplaces to warm up your house, make sure the heat isn't escaping out gaps just as quickly.

Here are some ways you can keep the warmth in:

• Install draft stoppers
  
  These can be installed on the bottoms of external doors to stop drafts from coming in  
  
  
• Check window and door seals
  
  Make sure to check if your window and door seals are clean and in good condition. If they are looking bent or worn they may be letting the cold in.  

Tip 9: Get on top of your deep cleaning 

Whilst you have the use of outdoor areas it’s a good idea to get some deep cleaning done.

Here are some jobs to get done before the rain comes: 

• Clean off fences,  paths and weatherboards
  
  Rather than scrubbing away manually, speed up this outdoor cleaning job by hiring a waterblaster. This is a great chemical-free way to tidy up, and you can get this project done in a day.
  
  
• Deep clean your carpet
  
  Over the space of a year carpet builds up a lot of dirt and grime, so hiring a carpet cleaner can give your house a much-needed refresh. Now is the perfect time to get this job done so that you can open doors and windows and allow the carpet to dry. 
  
  
• Polish wooden floors
  
  For an extra clean look, polishing is the way to go, plus floor polishers are easy to use and are low noise. 
  
  
• Air out area rugs and curtains
  
  Dust can build up on rugs and curtains over the year, so letting them air out when there is no rain to battle is a good idea. This can help to reduce allergens in your home too. 
  
  
• Wash internal and external windows
  
  Get rid of mould on windows before condensation sets in over winter and creates a bigger issue.  

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Tip 10: Get rid of rubbish

By the middle of the year, rubbish can start accumulating in the house, yard or garage. Now is a good time to have aclear-outt so you don’t have to do tip runs in bad weather. 

Hire a high side trailer to get rid of unwanted household items or green waste.

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Get ready for winter with Hirepool 

At Hirepool, we’ve got all the hire gear you need to complete your pre-winter projects the smart way. Book gear online today or come in and check out the range at your nearest Hirepool branch.