Get a jump on spring maintenance early this year
Transitional weather can do a number on houses. With spring comes higher rainfall and flood risks and getting your home ready ahead of time can help you prevent expensive damage. As the snow starts to melt, it is a great opportunity to inspect your home and check for any damage caused by the winter season.
Even new construction homes benefit from essential springtime maintenance. As a homebuyer, move in ready options promise lower maintenance costs right away but keeping an eye on the construction can make sure your home remains in great condition.
Stay on top of maintenance by checking these tasks off your list toward the end of winter.
1) Clean Gutters
Debris and clogs in the gutters are always a potential concern, but it is especially important when winter turns to spring. Melting ice and snow combined with higher rainfall means you need water running smoothly through those gutters. This is also a good time to reattach gutters that have pulled away due to the weight of ice or wind. Make sure downspouts are pointed away from the home and water drains away.
Clogged gutters can lead to big problems later. Rainwater can build up and overflow, damaging the foundation that gutters are meant to protect. If the wood trim starts to rot, it may give animals easier access to the inside.
2) Inspect the Roof
Make sure your roof made it through the winter season unharmed. Check for missing shingles, damaged pipes, leaks, and any issue that does not look right. You don’t necessarily need to get on a ladder, either. A pair of binoculars can help you do a quick inspection if you can get the right vantage point.
3) Inspect exterior Caulking
Check all exterior caulking around windows and doors and siding trim work.
3) Take Care of Exterior Wood
Decks, fences, railings, and other exterior woodwork undergo a lot of damage under the ice and snow. You’ll want to clean, reseal, and stain that wood every couple of years to protect it from water damage, warping, cupping, and mildew. Start by cleaning the deck and repairing damage before you reseal.
4) Check for Cracks in the Foundation
Spring is a good time to perform an annual check on your home’s foundation. There are many causes of cracked foundations, including:
- Ground shifting as it freezes and thaws.
- The soil of the property was not compacted properly.
- Leaks in the plumbing system.
- Poor drainage at the foundation level.
5) Check Sprinklers
Shifting and frozen ground can cause problems for your lawn sprinklers. Check for leaks, damage to sprinkler heads, and the directions sprinklers are sending water. If they are spraying the house, you can wind up with moisture damage.
6) Be Safe
Many people keep doing all the maintenance even as they get older. If you are 70 years of age, should you really be up on a tall ladder cleaning eavestroughs? You do not have to do all the maintenance yourself. Just make sure you have it done one way or another.
A few basic spring maintenance tasks can protect your home from damage for years to come.