It is a common mistake among homeowners to concentrate more on their home’s interior design and overall aesthetics, forgetting to take care of the exterior. It’s only natural that you want your home to feel comfortable and welcoming inside – after all, it’s where you spend most of your time. However, neglecting the home’s exterior maintenance can not only make it less inviting but might also result in costly repairs if you don’t address some issues timely.
On the other hand, regular maintenance will allow you to keep the exterior in decent condition at all times, positively affecting your home’s curb appeal and marketability. As such, exterior-related tasks should be a priority on your home maintenance checklist – at least during the warmest months of the year.
The great news is that these tasks are nearly effortless and require little to no money. Apart from sealing cracks and inspecting the roof, you can also give your house a power wash, clean out the gutters and downspouts, or fertilize your lawn. Continue reading and choose something to tackle next weekend!
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Fertilize Your Lawn at the Right Time
Fertilizing your lawn may just be one of the best things you can do to improve its condition and make your exteriors look spectacular – after all, your lawn is one of the first things that people see when they come over.
It’s especially important in areas where growing plants is hard due to the environmental conditions. So if you want to enhance your curb appeal for yourself or to sell your house in Phoenix or any other location with a dry climate, you need to help your lawn a little bit.
However, you have to wait for the right time. Try not to do it too early in the season, as the grass is putting its energy into root development. Instead, wait until it’s late spring, when the green grass is starting to grow, so that you can get the maximum benefit from this home maintenance task.
Give Your House a Power Wash
We know washing is not your typical home maintenance task. Yet, it can be a real game-changer when it comes to freshening up your home’s exterior. If you don’t like the idea of using chemicals to clean your home’s exterior, consider power washing as an alternative.
The power of water combined with high-pressure hoses can blast away debris, grime, and even algae, leaving your home’s exterior looking brand new. However, be careful. If your exteriors are pretty dated, pressure washing can do more damage than good and blast away loose parts.
Check Your Doors and Windows’ Weather-Stripping
If you want to keep the elements at bay and make sure that nothing gets inside your house, start with checking the weather-stripping around your doors and windows. You could hold a flame near the gap that is supposed to be weatherproofed. If the flame wavers, it means that your seal is inefficient, and you need to change it for a new one. You can also use a piece of paper – if it slides between the door or window and the casing, there might be a draft entering your home.
Seal Cracks in Your Foundation and Crawl Spaces
Foundation leaks are an unfortunate but not uncommon occurrence, especially in older homes. Sealing cracks in your foundation is perhaps one of the most crucial exterior home maintenance tasks that you must do each spring before the rainy season begins. These cracks can lead to significant damage if they are not addressed early on.
In addition to sealing cracks, it is also a good idea to have a professional insulation company inspect your crawl space and seal any holes or gaps that may exist there. This will help you maintain an even temperature in the conditioned part of your home by ensuring that warm air stays in during winter and cold air stays out during summer, keeping your family comfortable all year long.
Clean Out the Gutters and Downspouts
Cleaning out your gutters and downspouts is another essential home maintenance task that needs to be done regularly. If you cannot do it yourself, it is a good idea to call a gutter cleaning service nearby and schedule an appointment for them to clean out your gutters and downspouts annually.
This is something you should do at least once per year – or whenever you notice that they are clogged or overflowing with leaves, pine needles, and other debris. With your gutters clogged, rainwater won’t be drained properly, and when it overflows, both the interior and exterior of your home may be damaged.
Inspect the Roof for Leaks or Damage
Spring is also a great time to check your roof for leaks or damage before they become serious problems that require expensive repairs. It’s highly recommended that you pay attention to these three areas of your roof: skylights, chimneys, and vents/hoods.
It’s also a good idea to check the attic (especially if you have an older home) since this is where most leaks start from. If you do spot any leaks or damage, schedule a visit from a professional roofing company to have them address the issue before it becomes a problem!
The Bottom Line
As you can see, most of these tasks are easy to do and require little to no money. Thankfully, most of them can be done over the weekend or whenever you find a few spare hours during the week. If you consider the long-term effects of neglecting these tasks, you will realize that regular maintenance is not only a better option than doing repairs later on, but it is also extremely cost-effective. So, consider having some fun and get these tasks done before spring hits!