Spring House Maintenance is Necessary for Your Home

Now that the warmer weather is here, and winter is hopefully behind us, there are several maintenance projects that should be done during the spring season to undo any damage that the harsh winter weather caused. And, with more time being spent outdoors, you will want to make sure that your house is ready for the warmer months. The following projects will make a difference in the appearance of your home, and potentially save you money.

Why Spring Maintenance is Necessary

Spring is a good time to perform routine outside home maintenance, especially in areas that get hit hard by the cold temperatures and harsh weather that winter brings. Not doing a spring check-up on your home every year could lead to further damage and costly repairs down the road. Dean Bennett of Dean Bennett Design and Construction in Colorado states that he gets called to do emergency repairs after a crisis because “a lot of it is selective memory. There’s kind of an amnesia about things like that.” So a homeowner may think they repaired the roof last year, but it is actually more like three years ago. Developing a yearly plan to perform maintenance in the spring ensures that these tasks will be completed.

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Repair Shutters

Shutters are an important investment that enhances and protects your home, particularly in hurricane-prone areas. However worn or damaged shutters can make for a house that looks like it is not taken care of. Shutters may have peeling paint, joint deterioration, or decay because they are exposed to the elements. If your shutters have been damaged over the winter, it is often more cost-effective to repair them than to purchase new ones. The good news is shutters are easy to fix and clean.

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If a shutter has been damaged, unscrew it and remove loose louvers from the shutter. Clean the shutters and set the louvers back in place, glue the joint of the frame, and hammer back in place. If the shutter has begun to rot, wood epoxy or wood filler can be used to fill in the area where the rot has been removed. Sand the shutter with a fine-grit sanding block or paper and re-paint the shutter. The end result is a shutter that looks new.

Inspect Foundation Vents

Crawl Space ventilation allows fresh air to ventilate through the space. Vents should be closed in the winter and opened during warmer months to allow the area to dry out and prevent moisture and mildew from accumulating. If your home has vents, they should be inspected, opened, and replaced if necessary. Foundation vents are sometimes visible on the outside of the home, or accessible through crawl spaces.

Replacement options include screens, which need to be removed and closed during the winter or automatic vents, which have temperature sensors that open and close the vents. The new vents should fit securely to prevent pests and animals from entering.

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Caulk and Paint the Exterior Trim

The elements can wreak havoc on the exterior trim of your home. Rain, sun, wind, and drastic temperature changes can wear exterior trim. It will be obvious that some areas need to be caulked due to wear, but it is important to seal the entire house, especially if it has not been done for several years. This will prevent water and insects from entering the house around the windows and at the joints. Plus, it will also help to insulate the home from the cold and the heat.

Caulk should be applied wherever two different materials meet, for example, wood and glass. Pay special attention to entry and garage doors, which often wear from use. A thin bead of caulk can help prevent water damage on entries.

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Painting the trim can make a huge impact on your home’s appearance as trim often gets chipped and dirty over time. Once the caulk has fully dried, the trim can be painted. For the best results, start in a corner and use a smooth motion to brush or roll the area. A brush should be used for painting small panels and over the surface. Once the paint has dried completely, the doors and windows are ready to go for the spring season.

Clean Gutters and Downspouts

This is a must-do spring chore. A home’s gutter system controls the flow of rainwater from the roof lines to protect the home’s roof, walls, foundation, and landscaping. However, debris from the fall and winter inevitably get stuck in the gutters and downspouts. If gutters become clogged with leaves and twigs, the water that builds up in the gutters won’t be able to escape and it will go into the roof and walls of the house. Clogged gutters and downspouts can also cause the wood trim to rot, which means insects and animals can get into the attic and house.

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Cleaning gutters in early spring can prevent damage from rain, and clear downspouts will ensure that no water collects around the foundation. When rain gutters do not properly channel water away from the home, the result can be more costly than cleaning them annually as gutters that have not been properly maintained can result in damage to them, mold growth, a leaky roof, or a wet basement.

Inspect the Roof

Winter storms that deliver snow, high winds and ice can affect the roof. A visual inspection of the roof will determine if any shingles or metal pipes are missing or damaged or if something does not look right. Shingles that are cracked, loose, or buckled will need to be replaced. The flashing around plumbing vents, the chimney, and skylights should be checked as well. Black streaks on asphalt shingles are stains caused by algae that feeds off the limestone filler in the shingles. While roof damage seems minimal sometimes, it can lead to leaks that can cause structural damage.

A yearly inspection in spring can save you money by addressing roof deterioration and other issues before they become larger and more costly as waiting for a leak to present itself gives any small issue time to get worse. Proactive roof repair after severe weather can extend the lifetime of the roof.

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Take Care of the Exterior

The condition of the outside of the home can affect the value of the home. Now is the time to address any problems that may have crept up over the winter months. For example, siding that is damaged should be repaired. Scrub any dirt and grime that has accumulated on the house over the winter months. Exterior walls that have mildew or mold need to be cleaned extensively.

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This is also a good time to make repairs to exterior woodwork. Wood decks and railings will last longer if they are stained or resealed every year. Since windows will be open more in the spring, examine the screens for any holes and tears and repair them, even if they are small. The exterior of windows and the sills should be cleaned, and the frame checked for cracks or leaks. If you are planning on repainting the outside of the home, consider color choices that will enhance the home’s style. Dzinly.com is the best tool for this.

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Check the HVAC System

There is nothing worse than going to put the air conditioning on for the first time in warmer weather only to discover that it does not work….and that you cannot get it serviced for weeks because everyone else waited too. To get the most of your home’s cooling system, make sure it is running efficiently. The filters should be changed in the spring and the condenser should be cleaned with water from the hose to gently remove dust.

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Having the HVAC system maintained can help the system run all year round and can prevent repair bills when the system is taxed during summer months. The HVAC air filters should be replaced at least two times a year to get rid of dust and dirt that can impede the air flow throughout the system.

Get out the Pressure Washer

Moisture can cause damage and stains to the exterior surface of your home. If the dirt stays on surfaces for a long period of time, it can result in permanent damage. Mold can damage painted surfaces and concrete coatings. Dirt and algae often build up in shaded areas and should be removed periodically. A pressure washer will help remove dirt, mold, mildew and even stubborn stains from the exterior of the home. On the exterior of the home, the pressure washer will help to loosen dirt to give it a cleaner appearance.

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The driveway, front walkway, patio, porch and deck should also be cleaned thoroughly to prevent any permanent damage. Driveway asphalt that has been cracked can usually be sealed or patched, but damaged concrete usually needs to be replaced entirely.

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Take Your Spring Projects to the Next Level

Spring is a good time to prepare your home for the change in season and take inventory on any issues that may have arisen over the winter. Performing spring maintenance on your home now will help to prevent any major issues in the future, which saves money. Dzinly.com can help take your spring maintenance to the next level, by providing you with a virtual view of any exterior transformations. We can help you visualize exactly how your house will look with any spring updates you have in mind.