Cabin life in fall is one of the most beautiful: there’s a chill in the air, the leaves are changing colors, and it’s time to light a fire in the woodstove. But it’s also one of the busiest seasons at the cabin.
As winter comes quickly, there’s a lot to do to prepare. And taking the right steps to prepare will go a long way in preventing emergencies during a season when you want to avoid the most.
Grab a cup of hot cocoa and cozy up by the fire, because reading this guide will take the stress out of your winter preparation!
Here’s the checklist every cabin needs for fall:
1. Seal up Cracks
Do a top to bottom check of your cabin for gaps in your logs. Seal up any cracks that you find using backer rod and caulking. This is one of the most important things you can do before winter! Making sure your cabin is sealed tight will prevent:
- Cold air leakage
- Moisture in your logs
- Critters looking for warmth
A Quick Guide to Repairs:
- Repair cracks in your logs by replacing or adding foam backer rod, available here. Backer rod is the material that goes between your logs before sealing them. And backer rod made of foam is ideal because it provides insulation and allows your sealant to easily expand/contract.
- On top of your backer rod, apply caulk. Our recommended caulk is this one: Conceal Textured Caulking. Good caulking & application will seal your logs and keep airflow, water, and pests out.
2. Check & Clean Gutters
Double and triple-check that your gutters are working and clean of debris. Clogged or broken gutters can result in ice dams during the winter and flooding in the spring. Moisture build-up can also age and rot your logs. A simple gutter check and clean will prevent this!
3. Prepare the Fireplace
Don’t forget to prepare for one of the most exciting parts of fall and winter: fires in your fireplace or woodstove!
Here’s an overview of what to do to get ready for your winter fires:
- Have your fireplace cleaned (by a professional service or yourself)
- Make sure the top of your chimney is unobstructed
- Stock up on quality firewood & kindle
Check out my article on How To Stack Firewood Off The Ground.
4. Wash Windows
One of the best parts of winter at the cabin is watching the wildlife that comes by. At our cabin, we keep an eye out for everything from winter birds to moose and foxes in our yard. And what better way to watch them than through clean windows.
Winter will add a layer of snow and dirt to your windows, so start the season by cleaning them well. This will cut down on the buildup during winter and let you make the most of your views.
5. Insulate Pipes
One of the most important tasks of winter preparations is checking your pipes to make sure that they’re well insulated. Even if you made it through last winter without issues, do a review before this season to confirm that there’s no new damage or places that need to be reinforced.
Especially vulnerable areas include basements, crawl spaces, and attics – these are the areas of cabins that get the coldest.
6. Finish up Maintenance Tasks
Fall at the cabin can feel like a sprint — so much to do, so little time. There are usually a few lingering maintenance tasks that you hope to get done before the first snowfall. Check off what you can, and prioritize the tasks that will make the biggest difference in winter.
And be sure that you have each of these 5 Products to Keep on Hand for Log Home Maintenance.
With winter fast approaching, use this checklist as a guide to preparing your cabin from top to bottom. Every cabin is different, so try using these 6 items as a starting point to create your own list that you can reference each year.
What other items are on your cabin’s fall checklist? Drop a comment below to share!
This post is sponsored by Schroeder Log Home Supply, www.loghelp.com.
ABOUT SCHROEDER LOG HOME SUPPLY
Schroeder Log Home Supply has been serving homeowners for over 3 decades. They do more than offering the best products — they have the expertise and support to help you make the best choices for your log home. They believe that log homes leave a legacy, and their products help you take care of yourself.
Get in touch with them at: https://www.loghelp.com/.
I usually stock up a few extra groceries as we head into winter. I’m all about soups on cold days
Yes!! Such a good idea! We do this as well 🙂 The less trips we have to take out in the snow the better!