Decorating Mistakes That Can Damage Your House

After last week’s column about sprucing up the outside of your home for fall, I got a good follow-up question: What’s the best way to decorate without damaging the house?

It’s worth talking about because we’re entering several straight months of outdoor decorating. Pumpkins and Halloween decorations will soon give way to Thanksgiving wreaths and then holiday lights and garlands. And every year, homeowners unintentionally make holes, trap moisture, or damage parts of their homes in the process. So before you start decorating, here are a few things I’d avoid.

Don’t Put Holes in Your Siding

This is probably the biggest one. Vinyl siding is designed to shed water, and putting a screw or nail through it creates a hole where there shouldn’t be one.

Instead, look for siding hooks and clips designed to slip into the seams of vinyl siding without puncturing it. There are also exterior-rated removable hooks that work on certain surfaces.

The same rule applies when the Christmas lights come out. There are inexpensive clips made specifically for attaching lights to gutters, shingles and other surfaces without putting holes in them.

Be Careful With Brick and Masonry

Brick may seem indestructible, but that doesn’t mean you should start drilling into it every time you want to hang something.

If something truly needs to be permanently mounted, it should be done with the proper fastener and in the proper location. For temporary seasonal decorations, look for alternatives such as brick clips that grip the brick without drilling.

And if you do need to drill into masonry, know what you’re drilling into first. Brick, mortar and manufactured stone aren’t interchangeable.

Don’t Hang Heavy Decorations From Gutters

Gutters are another tempting attachment point, particularly during the holidays.

Lightweight light clips are one thing. A heavy wreath, garland or decoration pulling on the gutter is another. Gutters aren’t designed to support much additional weight, and a heavy decoration combined with wind, rain, snow or ice can pull sections loose or affect their pitch.

Use gutters for products specifically designed to attach there, not as an all-purpose hanging system.

Watch What You Put Against the House

Some of my favorite fall decorations are also some of the messiest. Pumpkins, hay bales, cornstalks and live plants all hold moisture. If they sit against wood trim, siding or a door for weeks, particularly during a rainy stretch, they can keep that area damp.

Give natural decorations a little breathing room. Check underneath pumpkins and planters occasionally, too. A pumpkin that looked great when you bought it can turn into a soft, leaking mess surprisingly quickly.

The same goes for outdoor rugs. If one stays soaked after every rain, periodically lift it and let the surface underneath dry.

Think Twice Before Using Adhesive

Not every product marketed as removable behaves perfectly on every surface. Adhesive hooks and tape can be useful, but check whether the product is rated for outdoor use and appropriate for the material you’re putting it on. Painted doors and trim are especially worth treating carefully. Pulling off a decoration in January and taking a patch of paint with it isn't the way anyone wants to finish the holidays.

When removing adhesive products, follow the manufacturer’s directions rather than simply pulling them off.

Remember That Decorations Move

Something that looks perfectly harmless when you put it up on a calm afternoon may behave very differently during the first windy October night.

Signs, wreaths, metal decorations and other hanging pieces can repeatedly bang or scrape against siding, doors and trim. Over several weeks, that movement can scratch paint and finishes.

Secure decorations well and pay attention to what they'll touch if the wind starts moving them around.

Don’t Forget About the Door

The front door tends to get more decorations than just about any other part of the house.

Before hanging a large wreath or sign, make sure it isn’t interfering with the storm door, weatherstripping, lock or door operation. Over-the-door wreath hangers are convenient, but very thick ones can sometimes prevent a door from closing or sealing properly. If you have to force the door closed once the decoration is installed, find another way to hang it.

A Little Restraint Saves Repairs Later

I’m all for decorating the house. Fall and the holidays are some of the best times of year to make the front of your home feel welcoming.

Just remember that most seasonal decorations will only be there for a few weeks. It doesn’t make much sense to create a permanent hole, stain or repair for something temporary.

Use the right clips and fasteners, keep moisture in mind, and pay attention to what you're attaching decorations to. When January rolls around and everything comes back down, your house should look exactly the way it did before you started.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

A Home Maintenance Checklist After a Storm

If your neighborhood looked anything like ours after last week’s storms, you’ve probably spent more time than you planned dragging branches to the curb, filling yard waste bags, or listening to chainsaws in the distance.

Central Connecticut took a pretty good beating. High winds and heavy rain left plenty of downed trees, broken limbs, and debris scattered across neighborhoods. Thankfully, many homeowners escaped with only minor damage, but storms like these are also a good reminder that your home’s exterior takes more of a beating than you might realize.

Once you’ve finished cleaning up the obvious mess, it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to walk around your property. A quick inspection now can help you catch small issues before they turn into expensive repairs later.

1. Start with Your Roof

Before you even grab a ladder, take a slow walk around your house and look up. You’re looking for anything that seems out of place such as missing shingles, lifted ridge caps, damaged flashing around chimneys or vents, or branches that may have scraped across the roof.

Not every problem is obvious from the ground, but if something catches your eye, don’t ignore it. Even a small area of damage can allow water to work its way underneath the roofing materials, and the leak often doesn’t show up until the next heavy rain.

2. Give Your Gutters Some Attention

After a storm, gutters have a way of collecting everything from leaves and twigs to pine needles and seed pods. Once they’re clogged, they can’t do the job they’re designed to do.

Instead of carrying water away from your home, overflowing gutters can send water behind your siding, damage fascia boards, wash out landscaping, or even contribute to water finding its way into your basement.

If you’ve already been outside cleaning up branches, this is the perfect time to make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear and draining properly.

3. Don’t Forget the Trees That Stayed Standing

Most people notice the branches that came down. The ones that are still hanging overhead deserve just as much attention.

Look for cracked limbs, split trunks, or branches that are now hanging over your roof or rubbing against your siding. Storms often weaken trees without bringing them down immediately, which means the next windy day could finish the job.

If you have mature trees close to your home, it’s worth having an arborist take a look if anything seems questionable.

4. Walk the Outside of Your Home

Wind doesn’t have to knock something over to cause damage. Flying debris can loosen siding, crack trim, or damage the caulking around windows and doors.

Take a slow walk around your home and look closely. Small gaps may not seem like a big deal today, but they can allow water, insects, and moisture to find their way inside over time. Catching those little problems early is almost always easier and less expensive than waiting until they become major repairs.

5. Keep an Eye Out for Hidden Water Damage

Not every storm leaves behind obvious damage. Sometimes the warning signs don’t appear for several days.

Over the next week or two, keep an eye out for new water stains on ceilings, damp spots in the attic, peeling paint, musty odors, or discoloration around windows. Those subtle changes are often the first indication that wind-driven rain found a way into your home.

The earlier you catch a leak, the simpler and less costly the repair is likely to be.

6. Use This as a Chance to Get Ahead

One thing we’ve learned over the past several years is that severe weather isn’t as unusual as it once seemed. Strong storms have become part of life here in Connecticut, and the best time to prepare for the next one is while this one is still fresh in your mind.

Ask yourself a few simple questions. Are tree branches hanging over your roof? Are your gutters getting old? Is your roof nearing the end of its life? Are your windows and siding still doing the job they were designed to do?

You don’t have to tackle every project this season, but having a plan is always better than being caught off guard.

Once the branches are piled at the curb and your yard starts looking like itself again, spend just a little more time giving your home a careful once-over. A few minutes of maintenance today can help prevent a much bigger headache tomorrow.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

This Week’s Heat Wave Has Your Windows Sweating

If your windows have been covered in moisture this week, you’re not alone. After several days of Connecticut heat and humidity, plenty of homeowners have noticed foggy glass, water droplets, or condensation collecting on their windows. It’s one of those things that catches your eye and makes you wonder if something is wrong.

The good news? Sometimes it’s completely normal. When it’s hot and humid outside and your air conditioner is working hard to keep your home cool, moisture naturally forms when warm, humid air meets the cooler surface of the glass. During a stretch of weather like we’ve had this week, seeing a little condensation on your windows isn’t unusual. In fact, it’s often just a sign that your air conditioning is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.

The trick is knowing when condensation is simply a byproduct of extreme weather and when it’s trying to tell you something about your home.

If the moisture disappears as the day goes on, you’re probably in good shape. But if your windows stay wet throughout the day, water is pooling on the sill, or you notice paint beginning to peel or wood trim feeling damp, it’s worth taking a closer look. The same goes if you start seeing mold, mildew, or that unmistakable musty smell around your windows.

One of the biggest warning signs is condensation trapped between the panes of glass. If you can’t wipe the fog away from either side, the insulated seal inside the window has likely failed. Once that happens, the window loses much of its insulating value, and replacement is usually the best long-term solution.

Sometimes the windows aren’t actually the problem at all. They’re simply the first place where excess moisture shows itself.

Everyday activities like cooking, showering, doing laundry, and even running the dishwasher add moisture to the air inside your home. During a humid week, that moisture has nowhere to go if your home isn’t ventilating properly. Basements can make the problem even worse, especially if they’re naturally damp or don’t have a dehumidifier running.

Fortunately, there are a few simple things homeowners can do to help. Run the exhaust fans in your bathrooms and kitchen during and after showers or cooking. If you have a dehumidifier, this is the time of year to put it to work, especially in the basement. Make sure your air conditioning system is clean, the filter has been changed, and it’s running efficiently. Even opening blinds and curtains during the day can improve airflow around your windows and help moisture evaporate more quickly.

It’s also worth taking a few minutes to inspect the weatherstripping around your windows and doors. Worn seals allow warm, humid air to sneak inside, making condensation more likely and forcing your air conditioner to work even harder.

If your home still has older single-pane windows or early double-pane units, they may simply be showing their age. Modern energy-efficient windows do a much better job of reducing condensation, improving comfort, and lowering energy costs throughout the year. While replacement isn’t always necessary, persistent condensation can be a sign that your windows are no longer performing the way they should.

This week’s heat wave won’t last forever, but it does offer a good reminder that our homes are constantly giving us clues about how they’re performing. Most of the time, a little condensation is nothing to lose sleep over. But when it becomes persistent, widespread, or starts causing damage, it’s worth paying attention before a small issue turns into an expensive repair.

Sometimes your windows are just reacting to the weather. Other times, they’re asking for help. Knowing the difference can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob at info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.