Homeowners
Show Your Home a Little Love with Exterior Maintenance
February 22, 2024
While your house was keeping you warm and dry all winter, its exterior likely took a beating from freezing temperatures, high winds, snow and ice, and other moisture. Show it a little love by considering these six quick tips for outdoor maintenance. You’ll help your home make a good impression before the summer swelter.
Go for a stroll. Cycles of freezing and thawing take a toll on concrete and asphalt. Go for a walk around your property to look for damage to walkways, paths, and driveways, and schedule repairs as needed.
Check out your roof. Winter storms can be rough on your roof, so give it a thorough look. You don’t have to do dangerous climbing; simply use binoculars or a smartphone to zoom in if you need to. Look for missing shingles, metal pipes that are damaged or missing, or anything that doesn’t look quite right. If you notice anything that needs closer inspection or repair, call a licensed roofer.
Stay well-groomed. Trim shrubs and trees that are crowding your house. Inspect your lawn care equipment by sharpening tools, charging batteries, and refueling as needed.
Key in on security. Examine locks and deadbolts on all doors and windows, replacing anything that doesn’t work well.
“Screen” for holes and tears. Window and door screens are designed to let breezes in and keep bugs out. But they can only do their job if they’re intact. To take advantage of spring breezes, be sure to carefully check each screen and repair any holes or tears, no matter how small. You can find screen repair kits at most hardware and home improvement stores.
Make a date with your air-conditioning technician. Outdoor temperatures may be comfortable now, but summer will be here before you know it. Even though your air conditioner may seem to be working, it may not be performing at its best. To get the longest life out of your cooling system and keep it running as efficiently as possible, change the filters at least once each season, and hire a licensed professional to service the equipment before the start of summer.
By paying attention now to a few outdoor areas, you’ll put your best “face” forward – and avoid potential problems later in your relationship with your home.