Spring is here and it is a good time to be thinking about your outdoor home maintenance after a winter of extreme weather.
Seasonal preventative maintenance on your home will keep it looking good and functioning well. This will save you time, money, and lots of headaches in the future. Keeping up with a routine home maintenance plan, including some of the tips listed here, will extend the life and value of your property.
- Trim branches as needed if they are rubbing against roof or overhangs to prevent damage to shingles. Clear off any sticks and leaves that have accumulated over the fall and winter seasons.
- Remove weeds or shrubs growing on or close to exterior walls. Branches and shrubs can provide a pathway for insects, cause excess moisture to rot your exterior surfaces and also cause mold and mildew to develop.
- Check roof for missing, cracked or broken shingles. For safety reasons, it might be a good idea to consider hiring a professional to take care of necessary repairs. When looking for a qualified contractor, check with friends, relatives, or sites like Angie’s List for recommendations and reviews.
- Clean gutters and downspouts and make sure water is directed away from the building.
- Inspect the caulk around windows and exterior doors. Caulking your exterior surfaces properly will prevent water intrusion, energy loss, drafts and insects from entering your house.
- Lubricate overhead doors once or twice a year by using a silicone spray. Spray silicone on the tracks, rollers, hinges and spring bearings. This will enhance the overall operation of the door and extend the life of the parts.
- Check window screens and replace or repair if damaged so that when temperatures increase you can open the windows and let in the fresh spring air.
- If you’re siding is painted, inspect for loose, flaking or peeling paint. Failing paint on exterior wood surfaces will lead to wood rot, as there is nothing to protect your wood surfaces from the elements.
- Vinyl siding may be washed with a mild soap and water mixture to remove dirt and dust.
Soil and grime can be removed with your garden hose and a bucket of soapy water.
Mold and mildew can be removed with the following solution:
1/3 cup of laundry detergent
2/3 cup of Soilax
One quart of Clorox
Three quarts of water(Greater concentrations may cause damage to siding so use caution. If the above solution does not readily remove stains, check with your local hardware store for a mold and mildew type cleaner)
The tips listed here are of a general nature. To make the most of your home maintenance plan, create your own checklist adding tasks and projects to meet your goals. Make a plan to take care of these things now so you can spend your free time this summer having fun in the sun.