The holidays are over, and spring will be here before you know it. It is time to start thinking about spring home maintenance. Make sure that your house is ready for springtime thaws!
Clear Your Gutters
Before the rains of spring begin to fall, it is time to give your gutters a good cleaning. Clogged gutters are a major cause of roof damage, flooding, and even foundation cracking. To avoid this, gutters must be free of any debris that might have accumulated since your fall cleaning. This includes downspouts. As you clean, inspect your gutters for holes. These should be promptly caulked to minimize leaks. Also, the freeze/thaw cycle of winter might have dislodged pieces of your gutter system. Replace and seal any missing pieces.
Fix Water Damage
Winter takes a toll on the exterior of your house. This is the most likely time for water damage to occur. Before the spring thaw exacerbates the problem, check all around the home for signs of water damage. Key places to inspect include ceilings, where roof leaks are most likely to show; and the driveway and walkways, where the freeze/thaw cycle can create pocks and cracks in the asphalt or concrete. In the winter, water can accumulate in tiny fissures within your asphalt. When temperatures plummet, the water freezes and expands, causing these fissures to enlarge. As ice thaws, asphalt cracks in your driveway can intensify. Early spring is a great time to fill any holes and seal the driveway, if necessary.
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Inspect and Repair Woodwork
Winter can do a number on your woodwork. This includes wooden siding, window frames, fences, trellises, and decks. Inspect all the wood on and around your house, looking for rotting wood, warped boards, protruding nails, and bare wood. These will all need to be replaced or repaired. Wood with a simple split can generally be repaired with quality wood glue. Rotting planks can be removed, replaced, and paint-matched. Reseal or repaint any wood that has been worn bare. Finally, apply a coating of oil-based wood preservatives to your fence and deck to preserve and protect your wood. Annual maintenance can extend the life of your wooden features and save you a great deal of money in the long run.
It may not feel like it, but spring is right around the corner. Now is a great time to review your home maintenance schedule and get ready for spring projects. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Check out this article on drastic home improvement changes that won’t break the bank!
