The Skeleton on Your Porch Is Fine. The Rotten Door Frame Is Not.

October decorating has become a competitive sport.

Ten-foot skeletons.

Fog machines.

Entire graveyards on the lawn.

Pumpkins stacked like architectural features.

We respect the commitment.

But Halloween decorations also have an unexpected benefit.

They make you spend a lot more time looking at the exterior of your house.

And sometimes you notice things you wish you had not.

Look around the door frame

While you are attaching garland, hanging a wreath or positioning your skeleton family, take a good look around the front door.

Do you see peeling paint?

Soft wood?

Cracks?

Water damage?

Discoloration around the threshold?

Small exterior issues can become bigger ones if moisture keeps getting in.

Check the bottom of the door

The threshold and bottom sweep deal with rain, dirt, leaves, snow and everything people track into the house.

Make sure the bottom seal is intact and the threshold is not visibly damaged.

If you can see daylight under the closed door, that is worth investigating before colder weather settles in.

Look above the door too

Homeowners tend to focus on what is directly at eye level.

Look higher.

Check trim, flashing and areas where water could potentially collect or run toward the entry.

Fall rain has a way of revealing problems before winter makes them worse.

Decorate carefully

Try not to attach heavy decorations directly into trim or door surfaces without knowing what you are drilling into.

Removable outdoor hooks, wreath hangers and other temporary mounting options may be better choices depending on the surface.

And please do not block the door swing with a decorative hay bale because it looked cute on Pinterest.

Your front door still has to function.

A good front door should look good without decorations

Seasonal decor should enhance the entry, not hide it.

If you find yourself using giant wreaths, signs or planters to distract from a door you no longer like, that might be your sign.

A new front door can dramatically change the exterior of a house.

Manufacturers such as ProVia offer enough styles, colors, glass options and hardware combinations that the door itself can become the main attraction.

The skeleton can just be seasonal support staff.

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