Our blogging friends at the home-improvement site Charles & Hudson offer a constant stream of great advice for home owners. For example, take the pile of tips you’ll find in the “build it yourself” category. Or, to be more direct, just check out the archive of tips.

Considering the time of year and the nationwide cold snap we’re collectively facing, we thought it’d be good to revisit a rather timely post: one full of tips on how to melt snow and ice without damaging your walkways. And of course, by melting snow and ice, you’re also avoiding damaging your head, knees, wrists, elbows and rears.

The tips include:

• installing a somewhat textured walkway,
• installing thermal heat elements underneath the path
• using a thermal heated walkway such as HeatTrak, or
• simply focus on reducing the slip danger

“Use sand or kitty litter,” C&H writes. “It won’t melt the ice but it will increase the coefficient of friction” — and increasing the safety of your family and your guests.

On the same topic, you can find more tips here.

Photo courtesy of LisaW123 via Flickr

As we wake up in the dark and begin to toss layers of clothing on our chilled selves, the grim reality of the season sets in. Soon we’ll be throwing on our snow boots and winter coats to head out into the sub-freezing air and tromping through piles of snow to start our cars after a long, cold night in the garage. (Unless you live in the south.)

Lovely picture isn’t it? Maybe it is if you enjoy winter and the beauty of a snowscape or a trip around the local skating rink. As you ponder that reality, consider for a moment whether you have properly prepared the exterior of your home for Old Man Winter.

While the tasks necessary to winterize your home might not seem as important as those needed to get the interior ready, they are nonetheless vital to your house’s well being.

Think of the future. Think of a time when the warmth returns and the grass greens again and the flowers bloom. That means now is the time to rake. If you allow fallen leaves to remain on your lawn through the winter, you risk disease and die-off in the spring once the snow melts. You don’t necessarily need to remove the leaves, but they should be mulched and allowed to return to the soil as nutrients or raked away completely and composted.

The same can be said for your gardens and flower beds. The steps you take in the fall can ensure a healthy garden in the spring. Start by removing your annuals in order to prevent pests and disease from surviving the winter. Healthy leaves can be composted, but those that are diseased should be disposed of.

Now is also the time to plant spring bulbs, being careful to protect them from scavengers by covering them with a cloth or some loose gravel. And don’t forget your tools!

Finally, give your lawn one last mowing in order to ensure the grass won’t be susceptible to disease and mold in the spring. Grass should cut to a height of one inch. When this is done, drain the gas out of your mower (or run it until it is empty) and give it a good cleaning before stowing it away for the winter.

You should also take care to eliminate any possibility or burst pipes and water supply outlets by taking a few common sense steps. Turn off the water supply to outdoor faucets and open the spigots. This will ensure that any water remaining will run out or have someplace to go should it freeze.

You should also take steps to drain your sprinkler system. The last thing you want to do in the spring is dig up the pipes that supply your system and search for a leak! Most systems will have a drain outlet located near the lowest point in the system. If that isn’t accessible, you might want to contact a professional about having your pipes blown out using compressed air. Learn the basics here.

As long as you’re dealing with water, take the time to clean out your gutters and downspouts. During the course of the winter, snow will fall and it will melt and if it doesn’t have someplace to go it can back up under your roof shingles and cause leaks as it re-freezes. Clean gutters are another vital tool in protecting your home from Mother Nature and should be attended to.

Finally, prepare your self for the inevitable. Dig that old snow shovel out of storage and make sure it’s ready for another season. If not, now is the time to head out and buy a new one — before the first flakes fall and everyone else is doing the same. You can also take your snowblower in for service now to beat the rush. If you’re in the market for a new snowblower, here’s some research that can help you make the right decision.

The steps you take today can pave the way for a safe winter and a satisfying spring. With a little hard work and common sense, you’ll be ready to survive the cold and look forward to green grass and blooming flowers!

Photo courtesy of cadd48 on Flickr