Fall is the time of year when people take steps to eliminate drafts inside of their homes, in order to reduce their heating bills. While fixing up the interior is essential, it’s just as important to winterize a house’s exterior. In fact, it’s a good idea to start outside. You can take advantage of the last days of good weather to work outdoors, and even have a barbecue, which will give you another chance to use your picnic table.

Begin with roof repairs, which should be done on a warm day, as asphalt shingles are more flexible, and easier to work with than when it is cold. Seal or re-attach torn, cracked, or curled shingles with roofing cement, which can also be used to fix wood shingles. Secure old or replacement shingles with galvanized roofing nails, and cover their heads with the cement.

Fix any holes, splits, or cracks in your home with materials appropriate to its type of siding. For wood, you may need wood putty, nails, screws, or waterproof glue. Mending stucco may require wire mesh, stucco patching compound, a chisel, and a trowel. Sealant and/or primer, and paint are almost always necessary to complete repairs and waterproof the patched-up areas on all kinds of siding.

To help prevent future damage, take a walk around the house and cut any weeds, branches, or shrubs that are touching it. Even small, innocuous-looking twigs can harm the siding with their incessant scraping, and can be downright dangerous in severe windstorms. Pruning also takes away easy-access ramps for rodents and insects.

Take down screens and put up storm windows. To clean dirty screens, gently rub them with a soft-bristled brush, then spray them with a hose. You can sew up tears with thin wire or clear dental floss. If you don’t have storm windows, you can find heat-shrinking plastic window coverings at any hardware store.

Clear the decks – and porches – as falling leaves pile up on them, and, combined with the deluge of rain that normally comes in October, create a very slippery outdoor carpet. Aside from the hazardous aspect, the tannin in the leaves leaves imprints that just won’t, uh, leave! One of the best ways to clean these stubborn stains is with a half-and-half solution of bleach and water; but test it on a hidden area first, as it may lighten the wood.

Trisodium phosphate (TSP) may also work, BUT you have to be very careful and be sure to wear rubber gloves and goggles, as it can burn or irritate skin and eyes. It can also etch glass and de-gloss or remove paint AND darken some woods – and even aluminum, if it’s hot. So, actually, you’ll have to be more than merely careful!

Although this is the time when many people, as a rule, put their picnic tables into storage, that tradition is changing, partly because of the increasing number of enclosed porches, patios, and gazebos, which allow for their year-round use. Another factor in this revolution is AllPicnicTables.com, which features hundreds of metal and synthetic picnic tables and dining sets that are virtually indestructible and maintenance-free. Available in a wide variety of colors and styles, they’re designed to complement any décor; and many are elegant enough for indoor use as well.

Naturally, AllPicnicTables.com also features classic tables made from decay-resistant cedar, pine, oak, cherry, and teak, along with outdoor furniture, and furniture covers that are water-proof and UV-resistant.

To see the entire collection, go to AllPicnicTables.com. To contact a design consultant or a customer service representative, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@allpicnictables.com. Visit today, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about – and one more thing to enjoy – this winter.