The exterior parts of your home require just as much maintenance as the interiors. By regularly cleaning both the indoors and outdoors of your home, you can prevent costly damages. The most common problems you can avoid are water damage, pest infestations, and roof damage.
To help you get started with your exterior spring cleaning, we’ve created a checklist of tasks you should include in your routine. By following this home exterior cleaning checklist, you can ensure that you’re doing everything possible to protect your beautiful home and make it look its best. Here are some of the things you can do to achieve that:
Maintain Your Gutters and Downspouts
One of the most crucial exterior maintenance you can do to prevent water damage is cleaning your gutters and downspouts, especially in the spring, when all the snow and ice from winter are melting. Water from melted ice and snow has to go somewhere, and you wouldn’t want any of it to get into your home. If these are not kept clean and free of debris, water can back up and cause a lot of damage to your home. These can include roof damage, water infiltration, and even mold growth.
To avoid this, keep your downspouts and gutters clean and regularly maintained. Make sure that you get all the snow and ice out of them so that there’s no chance of it melting into the parts of your home where you don’t want it. If you notice any damage present, repair it as soon as possible.
Inspect Your Roof
Your roof is one of the most critical parts of your home. It’s responsible for protecting your home from the elements, including rain, snow, wind, and hail. If your roof isn’t in good condition, it can lead to costly damages to your home.
One of the best and most logical methods to prevent these damages is to regularly inspect your roof and repair any damage that you can find. It would help if you also kept an eye out for things like moss or mold growth, as these can ruin your roof over time. It can pry your roof shingles open, making them detach from the frame of your roof. When that happens, it can expose parts of your roof that can’t handle the elements, leading to the eventual deterioration of your roof. If you’re not sure how to properly inspect your roof, you can hire a professional to do it for you.
Check On Your Windows and Doors
Windows and doors are also vital parts of your home that you must regularly check. They provide your home with additional protection from the elements. So, it’s only fitting that you make sure they’re always in tip-top shape. Because if you don’t, faulty doors and windows can lead to many problems and costly damages.
Like in roofs, gutters, and downspouts, water is one of the most common issues in damaged doors and windows. Doors and windows without proper sealing can allow water to infiltrate your home, leading to mold growth, leaks, damaged walls, and more.
Another common problem is pests. If the sealants on your doors and windows have gaps or have deteriorated, they can provide an entryway for pests like bugs and rodents. They can damage your home by chewing through walls, insulation, wiring, and other utilities and materials. Faulty doors and windows also pose a security threat that can put your home, yourself, and everyone else in danger by giving intruders an easy way to access your home.
To prevent these, check on your windows and doors for any damages regularly. If you do, don’t leave them as-is and solve them right away.
Keep Your Landscaping In Good Shape
Your lawn and garden are not only important for aesthetic reasons. They can also play a role in the structural integrity of your home. For instance, if you have trees on your property, their roots can grow and damage your foundation.
That’s why it’s essential to keep your lawn and garden in good condition. It will make your home look more aesthetically pleasing, and it can also help prevent damages underneath your home, which are hard to see.
You can achieve that by trimming your trees and shrubs, mowing your lawn, and removing debris from your garden. It’s also a great idea to hire professionals that can check on the growth of the roots of your trees to make sure that they don’t grow too near to your home.
Inspect Your Fencing
Your fencing is your home’s first line of defense, so you must pay attention to it. Fences provide additional security for your property and can also add to its aesthetic appeal. However, if your fencing is not in good condition, it can lead to many issues.
One of the most annoying issues with damaged fences is it allows pests and animals easy access to your home. If your fencing isn’t set correctly, it can provide an entryway for pests like rodents and bugs such as raccoons, rats, roaches, and more. They can cause damage to your home by chewing through walls, insulation, wiring, and other materials.
Another common problem with damaged fencing is that it can be a safety hazard. If the fence is not sturdy or is missing panels, it can easily allow intruders and creeps to get close to you and your home without you knowing.
Make sure your fence is robust and well-kept so that these issues won’t become a problem for you and your property.
Conclusion
Exterior home upkeep is vital for preventing costly damages to your property. By regularly inspecting and cleaning your home’s exterior, you can avoid many problems down the road.
So, use this exterior spring cleaning checklist that we’ve made as a guide to help you keep your home in good condition. And if you have any other questions on anything we did not cover here, do not hesitate to ask a professional or experienced individual for help.
