House Repair and Maintenance
After what seems like an endless stretch of winter, the bright sun and warm winds of spring are a welcome change. The harsh winter weather takes a toll on your house. Also, because you don’t get out much during the winter, the interior of your house can feel a little lived-in come spring. The start […]
After what seems like an endless stretch of winter, the bright sun and warm winds of spring are a welcome change.
The harsh winter weather takes a toll on your house. Also, because you don’t get out much during the winter, the interior of your house can feel a little lived-in come spring.
The start of spring is the perfect time to breathe some new life into your home and get it ready for the new season.
How to prepare your home for spring
Freezing temperatures over the winter can cause damage to your roof and paving.
Melting ice and snow can also leave the exterior looking a bit worn and dirty. Not to mention the dead leaves and debris stuck in the gutters.
Here are a few maintenance tips to get your home cleaned up and ready for spring.
Spring maintenance for the exterior
The exterior of your house is the worst hit during winter, and thus, where your spring cleaning should begin.
Tip #1: Inspect the roof and gutters
Take a quick walk around the house and check if there are bits of the roofing material that have fallen off.
Inspect the shingles for damage. Loose, broken, and buckled shingles will need replacing.
Frigid temperatures during winter might make metal roofing sheets buckle and bend. Look out for these, too.
Also, ensure that the gutters and downspouts are in good condition for the spring rains. Clean out any leaves and debris to prevent waterlogging and damage to the roof.
You should also have the chimney examined for damage and the flue cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.
Always use the proper equipment and observe safety precautions when inspecting and cleaning out the roof.
For instance, you should never place your ladder directly on the gutters. Instead, use a standoff ladder to protect your gutters from any accidental damage.
The maintenance of your roof is vital, but it can be a bit too advanced for the average homeowner.
Thankfully, you can contact a professional roofing expert to inspect your roof and gutters at a reasonable rate.
You can also get a few free quotes from different experts to ensure that you get the best value.
Tip #2: Inspect the flashings and caulking
Check that the caulking around the windows and doors is intact; you can also check the windows and doors for cracking and weather stripping.
Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around the windows, doors, decks, and railing to inspect for damage. Make any necessary repairs before the spring rains cause further deterioration.
Examine the flashings around plumbing vents, skylights, and chimneys for wear and tear. If there are signs of damage, have them cleaned and repaired by a professional roofer.
Tip #3: Inspect the drainage around the house and foundation
Ensure that all exterior slabs and downspouts drain away from the home’s foundation. This will prevent seepage and foundation damage from the spring rains.
You can also fill the areas next to the foundation with compacted soil to prevent flooding.
Pro Tip:
Winter weather and the elements can leave your exterior looking dingy and worn. Use a power washer on the paving, vinyl siding, and brick walls to refresh them and breathe new life into your home.
Spring maintenance for the interior
Spring is the perfect time to inspect and repair your interior systems.
Tip #4: Inspect your HVAC system
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) is one of the most critical systems in the entire home.
Contact an HVAC specialist to conduct an inspection and repairs during the spring to save money. It’s a lot cheaper than doing it in the summer.
Replace old and worn-out air filters, and stock up on new ones if you use disposable filters.
Take this opportunity to ensure that the other home systems are in the best working condition, too.
For instance, you could replace the smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries to ensure that your home security system, fire alarms, and extinguishers are in order.
You can also clean out your garbage disposal unit and check that it’s working at optimum efficiency. Do this by feeding a tray of ice cubes through it while running cold water.
Image from: KOMUnews
Pro tip:
Deep clean your house.
Start with the windows; it will surprise you just how much more you can see through them after a wash. Clean the fireplace, ceiling fans, and furnace filters too.
Interior spring cleaning needs to be thorough and exhaustive to prepare your home for the coming year.
If you need some help, bring in a professional cleaner to get the job done at the best rates in Australia.
Spring maintenance for your garden
Although it might be a bit too early to start planting your favourite flowers, there are some spring maintenance tips you can use to get your garden ready.
Tip #5: Clean your garden
You can do this by raking up and removing the dead leaves and debris from your yard. These can pose a fire hazard later in the summer.
Weed the garden and make sure you get the roots to prevent them from growing back.
Spring is also the perfect time to trim and prune your bushes and trees. Some of them might have dead branches and leaves from winter, so a little pruning will help them bloom back into life.
Tip #6: Check your gardening equipment for freeze damage
Image from: Pxhere
To properly care for your garden over the spring and bring it back to life, you will need the right tools for the job.
Ensure that your petrol and battery-powered lawn equipment are in good working condition and ready for the season.
Clean the equipment and tend to the sharp cutting edges to make yard work easier.
You should also inspect the garden water faucets and hoses for freeze damage. You can check them by placing your finger over the opening while the water is running. If you can stop the flow of water, then the pipe is likely damaged and will need replacing.
Also, check the garden hoses for dry rot and replace old and cracked hoses.
Tip #7: Work out the landscaping plan
Spring is famously known as the best season for the garden. Green thumbs can rejoice and break out their gardening tools once more.
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”― Margaret Atwood
Spring is the best time to prepare your yard and work out your landscaping plans.
You can kick this off by revamping your soil quality. It can get dry and run low on nutrients over winter. Use some manure and compost to replenish your soil and bring back some moisture.
You can also introduce some mulch to prevent weeds and diseases in your plants. Keep the mulch a few inches from the plant stems to avoid root rotting and to regulate moisture and temperature levels.
Pro Tip:
We all love the warm spring weather, but so do pests, which are just now getting into their breeding season.
Most bugs and vermin, such as ants, spiders, cockroaches, rats, mice, and the worst of the lot, termites, are more prevalent in the warmer months.
Termites, for one, do more damage to Australian homes than fires and natural disasters.
It’s better to prevent a termite infestation before they can cause any damage.
Although there are many home remedies you could employ to prevent pests, some of them, like poisons, can be harmful to your children and pets.
Consult a professional about some natural and less harmful ways to manage pests.
Preparing your home for the spring is a gift that keeps giving. It sets you up for the changing weather throughout the year.
Not only is it generally good practice, but it’s also a good idea if you are thinking about putting your home on the market.
Ensure you don’t miss anything by working with a qualified professional. Contact an expert home maintenance service person for a free quotation and the best rates for your spring maintenance to get your home ready for the best season of the year!