Tips and Advice for Spring Home Maintenance
You’re probably accustomed to preparing your home for winter. But when spring rolls around, it’s just as important to look for any damage that may have occurred during the harsh winter months. You can do many spring home maintenance tasks yourself, though some require considerable caution on the ladder and with tools.
Don’t put off spring home maintenance. You could end up paying a heavy price if there’s structural or roof damage that causes leakage once the spring rains set in. If you’re concerned about the cost, remember that you’ll save money by doing it yourself and by doing it before the damage worsens. Waiting can put you in line for more extensive work than you had ever imagined. Most times, rotted window sills and a damaged roof and interior walls are the result of neglect. So do yourself a favor later by taking action now.
Check outside
The snow, rains and high winds that buffet your house throughout the winter tend to chink away at your roof, siding and gutters, so make a careful examination of your house, top to bottom. If there are any missing or damaged roofing shingles, that’s often a fix you can do yourself. But if your roof needs major repairs or to be replaced, you’re going to need a professional. Depending on your roof’s size, a roof replacement can run between $4,900 and $14,100. If your gutters have sustained damage, you’re probably going to need a pro. If your house has wooden siding, take a careful look at how well it held up through the winter. If you’re seeing wood that feels spongy or crumbles, you’ll have to do some replacing. Also, check the condition of your caulking around windows and doors.
Gutters
If you were diligent in the fall, you probably cleaned out your gutters before the winter weather hit. It’s important to check them again to make sure there’s no residual build-up of tree waste that might prevent rainwater from flowing freely and away from your foundation. You can usually clear your gutter and downspouts of any debris with a garden hose. Whether you need a step or extension ladder, exercise great caution. Make sure that any ladder is steady and well-balanced and that someone is at the base to make sure it doesn’t slip or slide while you’re up there. If you have a problem with heights, consider having a professional service do the work for you. Make sure you have the right tools for any job you take on yourself.
Doors, windows, and filters
Replace your storm windows with screens and inspect all weather stripping carefully. It’s as important when the weather turns warm as it is during the winter because weather stripping can impact your home’s HVAC efficiency and save you money if it’s maintained and applied properly.
If the doors and windows aren’t taken care of, allergens from the outside air can enter your home. And if your air filters are dirty or clogged from the winter, they can’t properly eliminate both outdoor and indoor pollutants. Make sure you replace the filters regularly to maintain good air quality all year long. If you sign up for an air filter subscription, you can easily stick to a schedule of changing your filters, and you can choose how many you need to be delivered.
Hit the deck
Unless you’re in a warm weather climate, you probably have some work to do on your deck because winter can play havoc with a treated wooden deck. Be prepared to give it a good cleaning, and a re-staining. Check for any cracking or softening that might indicate damaged wood that needs replacing. When you’re ready to lay down a standard cleaner, use a roller, paint sprayer, or a stiff broom.
Exterior faucets
Make sure your exterior faucets aren’t leaking and that no pipes have cracked or been damaged during the winter. Outside faucets often become damaged when water freezes in the line, expands and causes bursting.
Before you break out the croquet and badminton set and start barbecuing again, take a few days to perform spring maintenance. Make sure your roof, gutters and other parts of your house that have been damaged during the winter are in good shape. If they’re showing damage, make sure you address them as soon as possible. Then, you can start enjoying the warm spring weather.
Article is provided by DiyGuys.net