Move Firewood and Debris Move all firewood and wood debris at least 10 ft. away from your home to keep termites and carpenter ants from gaining access to the house. Gutters and Splash Blocks Keep gutters and downspouts operating efficiently by reattaching loose sections. In most cases, you simply need to push the sections back together, but you may have to hold some together with a rivet. Seal holes and cracks in gutters with a waterproof mastic. Downspouts should end in an elbow and splashblock to direct water away from the house.
Water pouring straight onto the ground is a primary cause of wet basements and crawl spaces.
On older windows, glazing putty holds the glass in place. But over time the glazing can come loose and dry out. If sections are missing or crumble in your hand, clean out the old glazing and coat the sash with primer, which keeps the glazing from drying out. The final step is to reglaze the window. Click here for books about home repair.