12 Easy Ways to Winterize Your Southern Home
Fountain Building Supply • October 24, 2023
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For most people, your home is your biggest asset. And even in southern climates, it’s important to follow some steps to protect your home from colder weather. It’s not only about comfort during the chilly months—it’s also about protecting your home to prevent potential damage.
In the south, it’s easy to ignore the threat of potential cold weather. However, simple winterization steps can help to protect your home and its crucial equipment and provide more comfort for southern homeowners.
Homeowners in warmer climates should take care of their homes and prepare before the cold weather hits, and these simple winterization tips are a great place to start.
1. Clear the Outdoor Areas
A big mistake southern homeowners make when preparing for colder weather is storing outdoor patio furniture near the air conditioning unit. This can prevent ventilation and damage your unit even when it’s not operating. It’s also a good idea to trim and clear vegetation that may be growing around the unit or the surrounding shrubbery. It is advised to clear at least a two-foot area around outdoor equipment. Patio furniture should be stored in a shed or garage for the cold season to protect it from storm damage and rust.
2. Trim Nearby Trees and Remove Dead Branches
Cut back limbs that hang over your equipment and remove dead limbs from nearby trees to prevent the possibility of the weight of ice on limbs or a strong winter wind. Winter storms have the power to knock branches down, damaging your outdoor unit.
3. Clean your Exterior Unit to Prepare for Winter
When winterizing your home, take the time to remove all debris from your air conditioner’s exterior components. Be sure to turn off power before performing this critical maintenance. Brush away debris from the fins and grill, and carefully remove any branches or twigs stuck between them. Use a hose to gently wash away dirt and debris.
4. Cover and Protect Your Outdoor Unit
It’s not absolutely necessary, but many believe that covering your outdoor air conditioning unit is a good idea during the winter months. This helps to keep debris away and deter rodents from nesting there. Some units recommend a cover during the winter, so check with the manufacturer to see if this is needed. Some homeowners place a piece of plywood or bricks around their unit to protect from debris and rodents. Monitor the unit for excess moisture throughout the winter to prevent mold.
5. Maintain Your Gutters When Winterizing
It’s important to maintain your gutters all year, but it’s especially critical during the winter months. When gutters are clogged or improperly routed or pitched, water from rain and snow melt can drip down onto your exterior air conditioner. This water freezes within your unit, causing damage to components.
6. Get Your Heating System Ready for Winter
Before the cold sets in, limit the risk of discomfort by following a few simple steps to help your heating system perform properly during the winter season. Schedule a preventive heating maintenance tune up, and have your heating system professionally serviced to ensure superior performance. This helps to identify performance or repair issues for correction and provide the system’s needed care.
7. Change Your Furnace’s Air Filters
A furnace’s filter should be changed on a regular basis. Consult the manufacturer for advice on the frequency. Before winter, visually examine your filter – if it’s gray and caked with debris, change it immediately. Throughout the winter months, do a monthly inspection to determine if a new filter is.
8. Clear the Area Around Your Furnace or Heating Unit
It’s a fire hazard to store items within six feet of your furnace, especially it it’s stored in an open area like a garage or basement. Keep all combustible materials in another location.
9. Schedule Repairs Before the Cold Sets In
Don’t delay repairs that were not corrected last heating season. Problems can place the system components under stress and force it to draw excess energy, affecting performance as well as your energy bills.
10. Use Appropriate Thermostat Settings for the Winter Season
The correct thermostat settings will maximize energy efficiency and help your HVAC system work at its best all winter long. When you are home and awake, choose temperature settings as low as you can comfortably tolerate. For periods where everyone is asleep or out of the home, set back your thermostat 10 to 15 degrees. Doing this for eight or more hours can lead to a savings of up 10 percent annually. Consider using a programmable or smart thermostat to make this adjustment easy.
11. Identify and Seal Air Leaks Throughout Your Home
Seal cracks and gaps which let indoor air out and outdoor air in. This prevents heat loss and keep more of your heating energy inside the home. Add weather stripping around door frames to prevent cool air drafts and to prevent your heating system from working too hard. Use plastic sheeting or film to cover window interiors to prevent cold air infiltration. Another good idea is to use heavy, insulating drapes or curtains to prevent cold air infiltration whenever you do not have sunlight exposure. In south-facing rooms, open curtains during the daytime to take advantage of natural solar energy.
12. Keep Fireplace Dampers Closed Unless You Are Burning a Fire in the Fireplace
An open damper allows warm air from your living areas to escape through the chimney.
Prevent heat loss when using the fireplace by opening dampers in the firebox’s bottom. If not provided, open the nearest window approximately one inch and shut all doors to the fireplace room. This helps you stay warm even with lower thermostat temperatures.
Why Winterizing Your Southern Home is Important
Especially in the south, winterizing your home is often overlooked. After all, we have more warm months than cold ones. However, if you have a plan and prepare for the cold, you can save yourself time and money. Schedule maintenance for the fall because waiting until your furnace or heat pump is broken leaves you vulnerable to the cold weather outside. Plus, it will cost more to get your unit up and running quickly.
Preventing malfunctions and breakdowns keeps your heating and air system healthy and lengthens its lifespan. In addition, regular maintenance promotes healthy indoor air. When you fire up your heating system for the first time, anything accumulated inside will be transferred to the indoor air you breathe. Mold spores spread throughout your home via the air ducts when a heating and air unit isn’t routinely inspected and cleaned.
Don’t forget about comfort when learning how to winterize your southern home. These tips help your home stay warmer throughout the season and make your HVAC system more energy efficient. Properly winterizing your home will protect your biggest asset and provide enormous peace of mind.
Shop for Electric, Natural, and Propane Gas Heaters for Your Home
Whether it’s a portable heater to warm your space through the winter of a wall-mounted gas heater to handle an entire floor of your home, Fountain Building Supply has everything you need to keep your home well-heated. Explore our selection of natural and propane heaters and shut-off valves.
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Cold temp property damage can be extremely costly to homeowners. By taking a few simple steps, you can save yourself a lot of heartache and avoid spending a lot of money you’d spend on repairs. The cold temp property damage challenge is real! Before you know it, the pipes that provide fresh water into your home are frozen, your heating bill is literally leaking out of your roof, and the door may be closed but the breeze freezes your knees! Ventilate and Insulate Proper ventilation helps the cold air inside your attic to escape outdoors. To accomplish this consider installing soffit or roof vents in your attic. Attic ventilation works the same in the hot weather, allowing the heat to escape while the cool air stays inside your home. Ensure your attic has ample insulation; and if not, add where it is needed. Both will create proper ventilation and insulation to your home, keeping the cold air in the attic where it belongs during the winter months and keeping the warm air inside your home. Protect Your Inside and Outside Pipes When we are away from our home, a lot of damage can occur when the weather is at a freezing point. Before cold weather hits, detach garden hoses from your home and protect the exterior faucets by easily attaching an affordable faucet cover. These are as little as $3.19 at your local hardware store Fountain Building Supply. Add Insulation to Crawl Spaces and Basements Sometimes crawl spaces and basement areas are overlooked. Both can be areas of concern during cold temp months. To help keep pipes from freezing, add new insulation to crawl spaces and basement areas. Be sure to wrap all visible pipes. If your water heater is in the basement, wrapping it well can help to keep it from working overtime. Know Where Your Water Shut Off Valve is Located If a pipe freezes and bursts, it can cause a tremendous amount of damage to your home. To help prevent water from damaging many areas of your home, be aware of the location of all your home’s pipes and know where the water shut off valve is located. Speed is critical in these moments, and by acting fast to shut off the water valve you can minimize damage and avoid additional pipes from freezing. Keep the Caulk in Tact Patch gaps and cracks with fresh caulking is a quick and easy way to stop the warm air from leaking out of your home. Check your windows, doors, siding, and all entry points of your home. Caulk can also help you reduce water leaks around your home faucets, tubs, and sinks. Protect Your Garden and Patio Plants Some outdoor shrubs and trees cannot sustain a long freeze period which can cause severe damage to your plants. Adding mulch or a thick coat of pine straw to the base of your shrubs and trees can help stop any ground freeze near the plant roots. Potted plants that are left outside can explode due to the expansion of water when it freezes, so it’s a good idea to store them inside your basement, garage, or other protected areas. Repair Driveway Cracks Water expands when it freezes, pushing everything around it in an outward direction. The damage to a driveway can be a long play, so getting in front of the possibility is important. If these go unattended you could see a few potholes in your driveway by springtime. You can keep your asphalt in top shape by sealing holes and cracks with tar or pick up some special concrete at Fountain. Speak to an in-house specialist about your DIY driveway repair home improvement project and they will professionally guide you. Don’t forget the special concrete repair tools to make the job easier. Avoid cold temp property damage by taking a few easy and inexpensive steps – you will be glad you did. Enjoy one-stop-shopping and get all the essentials to avoid any cold temp property damage by visiting the Fountain Building Supply catalog that has everything you need to be successful as winter moves into the region. Shop Local for all your Home Building Supplies Rely on Fountain Building Supply for all your home’s building supplies. Follow Us on Facebook and Instagram Win Prizes! "Get In, Get Help, Get It Done With Fountain!" 
The holiday season can be a time to showcase your home as you welcome your friends and family. But after many months of working, school activities, and day-to-day living, your home may be less than guest-ready. Consider a few fun and creative ways to upgrade to your home for the holidays! The holiday season can be a great time to make a few home improvements to your home. But it doesn’t mean you have to conquer the biggest projects that can cause an even bigger mess. Instead, let’s focus on a few small fixes, maintenance items, and upgrades to your home as you welcome the holiday season inside. Stock the Guest Bathroom Check out the toilet paper holders and the towel hooks and rods – make sure they are secure or consider upgrading the bathroom fixtures. Stock the guest bathroom (and all bathrooms) with ample hand towels, toilet paper, toiletries, air fresheners and other items that make your guests feel welcome and saves you time restocking during a busy holiday season. For more pizzazz, consider upgrading your bathroom sink, vanity or faucet. Toilets and tubs are on sale this winter. For a modest investment, you have a budget friendly upgrade to your guest bathroom. Create an Eye-catching Entryway Let’s face it, the front entry of your home is the first impression. Start with cleaning all around the entrance, check the door hardware and consider a new doorknob. Next, how is the door paint? Maybe it is time to apply a fresh coat of paint on your front door for the holidays. Be sure to use exterior paint for your front door. Even better, a new door can be waiting for a new home – Fountain has a huge supply of exterior doors, and one that stands out is the timeless steel 6 panel window Craftsman style front door (like the one pictured above!). Freshen Walls in Your High-Use Rooms During the holiday season, your guests will congregate before, during, and after a celebration dinner. Depending on the layout and design of your home, your holiday guests may spend time in the kitchen, dinning area, family room, guest bathroom or powder room, and even wander outside to enjoy your outdoor surroundings. Once you have identified the main entertainment areas, identify one that stands out and consider a fresh coat of paint. Freshening a room with a new coat of paint is inexpensive; and painting a wall can make a nice first impression. Prepare the Outdoor Living Area for Your Holiday Guests Often times we find ourselves outdoors during the holiday season. Be sure to inspect your outdoor living area including your deck. Secure any loose deck boards, tighten the railing and replace any dry or rotten wood deck boards. Fountain’s lumber supply is affordable and offers a huge variety of lumber choices.
Even in central Alabama, it can get chilly this time of year. Many people rely on space heaters to keep their homes warm and cozy. However, portable heaters can cause fires and other safety concerns if not used properly. This guide provides tips on how to keep you safe while using space heaters to warm your home. Space heaters provide extra warmth in a drafty or chilly room, but the safety risks are substantial. According to the US Fire Administration , fires caused by portable heaters cause 65 deaths and 150 injuries per year. The National Fire Protection Association reports that two in five space heater-related deaths are caused by portable electric space heaters. If you choose to rely on a portable heater for additional heat, it’s important to make safety a priority. These tips will make all the difference in keeping you warm and safe while using a space heater. 1. Keep your space heater at least three feet away from anything flammable. Placing space heaters too close to flammable objects—such as curtains, paper, sofas, bedding, and clothing—is the leading cause of portable heater-related fires. A taller heater may need to be even further than three feet away from flammable items. Be sure to also keep people and pets at a safe distance from the heater. Never place a space heater in a child’s room. It’s a good idea to place a barrier around your space heater to avoid the curious hands of children or prying paws of pets. However, be sure to leave room for ventilation between the barrier and the space heater. Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit. 2. Never leave your space heater unattended. It’s a huge risk to leave your space heater unattended. If you leave the room or are sleeping, it’s best to turn the heater off. 3. Ensure that you have good ventilation around the space heater. Experts recommend using a ceiling fan or other fan to ensure there is proper ventilation and air circulation in the room in which you use a space heater. 4. Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory. Not all space heaters are created equally. Many have been thoroughly tested for safety. Be sure you check the packaging to be sure the one you purchase has been certified by a qualified testing laboratory. 5. Plug your electric space heater directly into the wall outlet. Many homeowners think it’s okay to plug an electric space heater into a surge protector or extension cord. This is not advised. Plug your space heater directly into a wall outlet and be sure it’s the only object connected to that power strip. Unplug the heater when it’s not in use by pulling the plug straight from the outlet. Check the cord for damage periodically, and don’t use the heater if the cord is frayed or worn. 6. Make sure your home has a working smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. Maintain your working fire alarms. Test both fire and carbon monoxide alarms every month and replace their batteries often. Carbon monoxide is especially concerning during the winter months. Install working smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every bedroom. 7. Ensure that your space heater is functioning properly. In recent years, manufacturers have made space heaters with safety functions that cause them to shut down when they are not working properly. However, older models may not have this feature. Check the color of the flames on gas heaters—blue flame is normal, but an orange flame is an indicator that the heater should be shut off immediately. 8. Place your space heater on a solid, flat surface. Even though some space heaters will automatically shut off when tipped over, it’s a good idea to keep the heater on a solid, flat, nonflammable surface. These appliances are intended to sit on the floor, not on a table. 9. Never use a space heater in a workshop or garage. Workshops and garages often store flammable items such as paint, gas cans, matches, automobiles, and grills. It may seem like a no-brainer, but this is a very unsafe environment for space heaters. 10. Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection. Manufacturers continue to add features to portable heating appliances that make them safer for use in homes. For extra safety, pay a little more for a space heater that has additional safety features. Staying warm through the winter is important for safety as well as comfort, and for some people space heaters may be the best way to do that. Taking precautions and using them properly can add another layer of comfort. Shop for Electric, Natural, and Propane Gas Heaters for Your Home Whether it’s a portable heater to warm your space through the winter of a wall-mounted gas heater to handle an entire floor of your home, Fountain Building Supply has everything you need to keep your home well-heated. Explore our selection of natural and propane heaters and shut-off valves. Rely on Fountain Building Supply for all your home’s building supplies. Follow Us on Facebook , Instagram and Pinterest . If you like this content, please PIN it! "Get in, Get Help, Get It Done With Fountain!"
Fountain Building Supply is proud to have recently participated in the Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity annual Home Builders Blitz that built 15 houses in one week for families in need of affordable housing. As construction was underway for seven locations, Fountain Building Supply was proud to participate by providing lumber for those lots that allowed families in the greater Birmingham area to take ownership affordable homes by Oct. 13. Throughout the annual initiative, 148 homes have been built during the Greater Birmingham Home Builders Blitz in 15 years. The homes are built by local home building companies and volunteers. The deserving families were chosen by Habitat for Humanity. President and CEO of Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity, Charles Moore, said the homes are made affordable by offering a small mortgage with zero percent interest. Fountain Building Supply Participates in Home Builders Blitz Volunteers built up to 15 homes in one week during the annual Home Builders Blitz. The 2023 event was Oct. 5 – Oct. 13. The event works in partnership with local professional home builders, experts in the home building industry, area sponsors, and hundreds of volunteers. “We are proud to have participated in this year’s event,” says Fountain Building Supply co-owner Leigh Howard. “Our company has served central Alabama for nearly 75 years, so participating in building affordable homes for deserving families is an honor. We provided lumber for seven lots. We were thrilled to see these families take the keys for their homes, built with high-quality lumber from Fountain Building Supply.” This is the first year that FBS has participated in the Blitz, but Fountain’s outside sales representative Alan Fondren has been working with Habitat for Humanity projects for many years. “It’s a lot of work,” Fondren says. “But it feels really good to be a part of it, and it’s great that Fountain Building Suppl participated in the Blitz this year.” Due to the speed and volume of the build, extreme precision is required by all of the builders and suppliers. “An event like this requires a lot of planning and preparation,” Fondren says. “It also requires coordination among many different builders and suppliers. We all have to work together to make it happen. There is no margin for error, so it’s important that the participants have the right expertise. These are very high-quality homes that we are building in just one week.” How Habitat for Humanity Helps Birmingham Families in Need Habitat Birmingham builds and repairs homes in partnership with low-to-moderate income families to support affordable housing and disaster recovery needs in Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, and St. Clair counties. The homes in the Birmingham area are not provided to families for free, however zero percent financing is offered to qualified families who meet certain criteria, including 1) need for quality, affordable housing; 2) willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity with a minimum of 300 “sweat equity” hours and 10 hours of homeownership education workshops; and 3) the ability to repay a no-interest mortgage. The average cost of the new house construction (including land) is $145,000, while the average monthly mortgage payment is $650. The Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity ranks in the Top 10 out of more than 1,200 Habitat affiliates in the U.S. by Habitat for Humanity International. Shop Local for all your Home Building Supplies Rely on Fountain Building Supply for all your home’s building supplies. Follow Us on Facebook and Instagram Win Prizes!
Clogged gutters misdirect water and lead to wear and tear. But poor gutter maintenance can lead to even bigger problems. The rain runoff can damage your foundation while poorly maintained gutters might pull away from the roof and cause even more damage. This guide identifies common gutter problems and offers tips to help you solve them before it’s too late. Gutters are not a very sexy part of your home, but their functionality protects you and your investment. Regular gutter maintenance helps to secure the structural integrity of your home. The first step is to ensure that your gutters are installed correctly, but regular maintenance is a crucial next step. Here are some tips to keep your gutters in top shape 1. Clean Your Gutters Regularly to Maintain Them A simple spray with a good hose will clean most debris from your gutters, but a plumbing snake or high-pressure washer is often needed to remove larger objects like compacted leaves, twigs, and pine needles from the downspouts. Experts recommend cleaning your gutters at least twice a year—in the spring and fall. Increase your cleanings in you live near large trees. 2. Good Gutter Maintenance Includes Installing a Cover or Helmet If you want to keep large debris from clogging your gutters, consider installing a gutter helmet—a device that easily snaps onto the top front of the gutter and drains through a cutout at the end. The helmet cover is flat and sits on top of the gutter, using a perforated screen to act as a drain. Remember that wasps and bees like to build nests in helmet covers, so inspect them regularly. 3. Check for Holes or Gaps in Gutters Holes and gaps in your gutters can cause further damage if ignored. Holes can be repaired with sheet metal and roofing cement. If your gutters have gaps, seal them with gutter caulk. 4. Repair Detached Gutters or Downspouts When gutters detach or pull away from the roof, it can cause water to run down your home’s exterior toward the foundation. It’s not difficult to repair a missing downspout, but it’s also not something you want to ignore. Measure the section that needs to be replaced and then use a hacksaw to cut a new section. File the edges and secure using U-shaped brackets and screws. Finish the job by sealing the seam with gutter caulk. 5. Proper Gutter Maintenance Requires Proper Positioning You won’t regret regularly checking the positioning of your gutters. Gutters without adequate slope will not do their job to move unwanted water away from your home. Too much gutter slope will cause the water to drain too quickly. Experts recommend sloping your gutters one-fourth of an inch for every 10 feet of gutter. The tilt of the gutters may need to be adjusted, as well, to ensure that they are not leaning too far forward or too far backward. 6. Maintaining Gutters Sometimes Requires a Professional There are specialists who are properly trained to inspect and repair your home’s gutters. If your gutters are in bad shape, it’s a good idea to leave it to the professionals rather than climbing on a ladder and trying to tackle the job yourself. Fountain Building Supply can recommend professionals who can help you. Why Gutter Maintenance is So Important for Homeowners Without proper gutter maintenance, you can expect significant damage to your foundation, possibly basement flooding, damage to driveways and sidewalks, and possibly a swarm of mosquitoes. Gutters are designed to protect your foundation by displacing water away from your home. They also minimize the risk of a flooded basement, which can also lead to mold and mildew. If water is being moved away from paved areas, soil is far less likely to be shifted or eroded by rain and snow that runs from the roof. It’s also important to remember that mosquitoes love stagnant water and that means they love clogged gutters. These are just a few of the reasons proper gutter maintenance is a good idea. Learn More About How to Maintain Your Home Rely on Fountain Building Supply for all your home’s building supplies Follow Us on Facebook and Instagram Win Prizes! "Get In, Get Help, Get It Done With Fountain!"
If you want to protect your home against pests and damaging weather, well-maintained siding is your first line of defense. Replacing old siding is a hassle but many homeowners only have to do it once if they take good care of it. This article explores the top signs that your siding and trim needs replacing. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to experience failing siding and exterior trim. It’s not easy to spot some of the signs that your siding is in need of attention. Even brick homes have trim that can fail. These are not repairs that should be ignored. Dealing with siding and trim issues early will save you time and money. Look for these signs to understand when it’s time to upgrade your siding and trim to keep it looking fresh and to help protect your home. 1. When You Continue to Have Excessive Maintenance, It May Be Time to Replace Your Siding and Trim Excessive maintenance is a simple sign that your siding lifecycle is shortening. I you skip regular maintenance, damage can happen to the integrity of the underlying wood structure. The cost of replacing the siding could be less than the cost of continuing to repair it. 2. Loose or Missing Siding is a Sign You Should Upgrade When you begin to loose pieces or sections of siding, you are no longer protecting your underlying structure. Excessive moisture, as well as pests, can get underneath through the missing pieces and lead to a range of issues and expensive repairs. 3. Pest Damage Translates to Siding and Trim Replacement Woodpeckers, termites and other pests can cause serious damage to your home. If you have frequent issues with pests, you may want to consider replacing your siding with a material that offers little appeal to critters, such as fiber cement siding. 4. Fading Color is a Sign of Failing Siding and Trim Fading color doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to replace your siding right away, but it may be a sign that you should consider some options. Shop for different siding options and consult the experts at Fountain Building Supply for suggestions. 5. Buckled, Cracked, Sagging or Warped Siding Can Mean Replacement Is Needed Not only does buckled, cracked, sagging, or warped siding affect your home’s curb appeal, but it may also be a sign that it’s not protecting your home effectively. It’s possible you can get away with replacing a few pieces of siding, but the damage can get worse if ignored. If the damage is excessive, it may be time to consult a siding expert. 6. Rot is a Major Sign That Siding Needs to Be Replaced Here in central Alabama, we live in a hot, humid climate that is unkind to wood and paint. When the paint fails, wood is exposed to our harsh climate conditions. Even a small paint failure will allow water to get to the wood, which in turn will speed up paint failure. This will eventually lead to rot in the wood, which is a self-exacerbating condition. Rotten wood softens and is able to hold more water, which encourages rot to spread faster. This is why it is important to deal with rot issues as soon as they appear. If caught early, the repair is possible. However, if left unattended, replacement becomes the likely scenario. 7. If Frequent Siding Painting is Needed, It’s Time for Replacement If your paint is not holding up as long as you feel it should, this may be a sign your siding or trim is beginning to soften and may need replacing. Especially in the hot summer, moisture trapped in the wood will try to escape pushing at the film of paint. Once the wood begins to soften it can hold more water building up more pressure behind the paint. 8. Poorly Installed Siding Will Not Last as Long Generally, the people who build the frame of a house are the ones who install the siding and exterior trim. Installation of siding and trim requires close attention to detail. Sometimes those details are overlooked, especially if the house is built quickly. Siding is frequently run too close to the roofing, protective flashings are often left off, and trim is run on top of the siding rather than bringing the siding to the trim. If you think your siding and trim needs some attention, consult an expert. 9. When Utility Bills Soar, It’s Time to Consider Siding Replacement How well the envelope of a house is protected can be a major factor that leads to high utility bills. Air infiltration and insulation affects the efficiency of our heating and cooling efforts. Air and moisture infiltration are significantly handled by the application of siding and trim. When corners are cut, bad things happen. When siding is replaced, it is an opportunity to tighten the house and reduce air and moisture leaks. 10. Dampness in the House Is a Sign of Failed Siding and Trim In Alabama’s hot, humid climate, the outside air most often carries with it a good deal of moisture. That moisture makes achieving comfort in the home more difficult and energy-consuming. It can cause mold, which presents significant health issues. By tightening up your home when new siding is installed, you can reduce the amount of moisture that gets into the house. If your house frequently feels damp, it could be a sign that you may need to replace your siding. How Long Does Siding Last? The type of material you chose, the way it was installed, and factors like climate and exposure to the elements can all affect the life of your siding. Perform an annual inspection to keep your home in top condition. Walk around the home and look closely, noting anything that could be addressed with basic maintenance. It’s always better to address issues early before they become major problems. Replacing your home’s siding is a large project that can be difficult. It’s a good idea to let the trade professionals handle it. Shop Fountain for a Wide Variety of Brand-Name Siding and Trim Products Rely on Fountain Building Supply when looking to upgrade your home’s siding. We have an extensive inventory of siding, including James Hardie and fiber cement options. We pride ourselves on affordable, competitive products. Follow Us on Facebook and Instagram Win Prizes! 
It’s fall, ya’ll! That means it’s time to freshen up your yard and garden and get it ready for the winter season. Transitioning from summer to fall doesn’t have to be daunting. Just follow these simple tips. Just because the leaves are turning colors, you shouldn’t neglect your yard and garden. In fact, that’s the perfect time to finish the gardening season strong with a few outdoor chores and simple solutions to keep your yard looking great and healthy. With just a few simple tasks each day, you will be ready for winter and can feel good about what may bloom in the spring. Tips to Get Your Lawn Ready for Winter With cooler weather, it’s a good time to give your lawn some TLC and encourage new growth. It’s also a good time to help your grass recover from excessive summer use. Here are a few ways to help your yard stay healthy during the winter months. Clean up fallen leaves. Grab a rake and remove any thick layers of leaves, or you can mow over them to create your own natural mulch that will add nutrients to the soil. Seed or lay sod. When cool temperatures and late fall rains begin to fall, you can establish new lawns easily. Aerate your lawn. High-traffic areas need annual aeration to loosen all the compacted soil. But if you aren’t on your lawn that much, every 2-3 years is fine for aeration. Manage weeds. When the temperatures cool, that’s when the weeds begin to multiply. Take some time to maintain them so they don’t get out of control. Raise your mower blade. A tall lawn encourages more root growth, which helps your grass stand a better chance of surviving the winter. Tips to Get Your Garden Ready for Winter Many homeowners focus on spring and summer for their gardens, but fall is also a prime time to take care of your garden. Fall is often the ideal time to plant, fertilize and keep a garden going or to get a head start for next season. Here are some tips to make the most of the fall gardening season. Remove weeds. If you don’t want to be overrun with weeds in the spring, clear away as many as possible in the fall. Add mulch. After the ground freezes, add a 4- to 5-inch-thick layer of bark mulch over the crown of perennials planted this growing year and those that are frost-tender in your area. Plant spring-blooming bulbs. Late September and October is the best time to plant tulips, daffodils, and many other spring-blooming bulbs. Dispose of diseased or pest-ridden plants. If you want to reduce problems next year, fall is a great time to remove any leaves, stems, and whole plants with diseases or bugs. Water once a week in dry weather. Perennials are dormant in fall, but their roots are still actively growing until the ground freezes. Well-hydrated plants will withstand the winter stresses better. Plant fall annuals. Pansies and violas love the cooler weather and add a great pop of fall color. Maximize Sunlight. With dwindling hours of sunlight in the fall, it’s a good idea to position your fall planting strategically. Sow seeds. If you plant a vegetable garden, remember that lettuce, spinach, radishes, and arugula are tolerant of cooler temperatures. Bring sensitive plants indoors. In Alabama, we don’t have to worry too much about freezing temperatures, but when freezing weather threatens don’t forget to take care of those plants that can’t take the colder temps. Plant trees and shrubs. Fall is the ideal time to plant most trees and shrubs. Propagate plants. When temperatures begin to cool, take cuttings from perennials and gather seed pods from azaleas and rhododendrons. Don’t forget to water. Roots can still be growing in the fall and winter months, so continue to hydrate your garden plants, trees, and flowers. You can gradually reduce the watering duration and the plants go dormant. Remove non-producing annuals. Clean up your garden and save some water by removing non-blooming annuals. Tips for Organizing and Planning for the Next Gardening Season For those who continuously care about their lawns and gardens, here are some tips to help you prepare in the fall for big rewards in the spring. Clean and sharpen gardening tools. Your tools get a lot of use in the summer so they probably need a good cleaning and sharpening. It’s possible they need to be replaced. Oil your wooden handles. Remove rust. Check your larger tools for damage and safety concerns. Shop for end-of-summer sales. There is a good chance you can find some sales and clearance deals on gardening tools and supplies in the fall. Prepare your soil. Add nutrients back into the soil of your garden and raised beds. Fall is also a good time to add a layer of mulch around perennials to help them survive the winter. Organize your garden shed. It’s easy to get disorganized during a busy summer gardening season. Organize now to make your life easier in the spring. 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