Historically, South Africans have been notoriously bad at preparing their homes for the winter. Since we have some of the best weather in the world, with gorgeous sunshine for most of the year, we tend to underestimate how cold the winters can be. As a result, features that are standard in northern hemisphere countries, such as double glazing and roof insulation, are not all that common here. This means that our homes can get rather chilly between May and September. Many more South Africans are recognising the need to winterproof their homes. With this in mind, Buildit has put together this list of winter home improvement tips for SA. 

What You Need to Winterproof Your Home in SA

The steps you need to take when winterproofing your home can be summed up in a single word: insulation. If you can seal up all the gaps through which air routinely escapes, you will be more than halfway through the winterproofing journey. After that, everything else is relatively easy. Another thing to remember is that winterproofing is not only about keeping your house warm. You also need to make the building more energy efficient. With these two primary themes in mind, consider the following expert tips. 

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Winter Home Improvement Tips in SA

If you want to keep the warmth in and the cold out this winter, the following actions are essential:

1. Insulate

Insulating your doors and windows is easy enough. You can get aluminium or rubber weather strips, which are easy to install. However, if you really want to improve your home’s insulation and you have the financial resources to do so, it is definitely worth investing in roof insulation. Roof insulation keeps the heat inside your house and drastically reduces your energy bills. This would include wrapping and insulating your geyser.

2. Check Your Roof And Exterior Walls

Look out for signs of cracking, damp or broken tiles, and make the necessary repairs as soon as possible.

3. Check Your Gutters

This is something you should do at regular intervals all year round. If you live in an area that experiences winter rainfall, such as the Western Cape, it is definitely something you should do at the beginning of winter. If you live somewhere in the rest of the country where winter rainfall is less likely, you should still check during the course of the winter so that dry leaves don’t start to pile up. When the gutters get clogged, water either sits in them, causing rust and decay, or runs down the walls, which can lead to damp and mould.

4. Install Energy-Saving Lightbulbs And Other Appliances

This will help to reduce your power bill in the winter. Since you will probably have some heaters running, you will need to save electricity wherever you can.

5. Use Rugs, Throws And Blankets For Additional Insulation

Layer these items on floors and furniture to make the entire house warmer and more inviting, as well as providing a little additional insulation. 

Trust Buildit for All Your DIY and Home Improvement Supplies

Buildit is one of South Africa’s leading suppliers of quality home improvement supplies of all kinds, and to suit all budgets. 

Contact us for more information about our stores and product ranges, and for any DIY advice you might need, whether it’s about garden tools, power tools or winter home improvement tips for SA.

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