Spring means you can finally get serious about some home improvements that you otherwise wouldn’t or couldn’t have done during the winter. Also, severe hot and cold weather is hard on your home. Therefore, it should be on your to-do’s to check for any damage so that it can be fixed before the damage becomes a big problem. There are also certain home improvements that are best done during the temperate spring.
Yearly Maintenance
There are several important maintenance tasks you should be doing every spring. This helps make sure that you can find any damage before they become a big issue.
Check for Damaged Roofing
Take a look at and around your roof for any signs of damage. This includes:
- Cracked, torn, curled, or missing shingles
- Areas that are sagging
- Water stains on the interior of your home
By taking note of any of these signs of damage, you may be able to fix these small areas without further damage. Or, if your roof is older, then you can call and schedule to have your roof replaced, saving the interior of your home from water damage. While you’re checking for roof damage, take a look at your chimney. If your chimney is damaged, this can also lead to water leaks.
Check for these signs of chimney damage:
- Cracked and crumbling brick joints
- Loose and missing bricks
- Damaged flashing
Clean Gutters
Fall leads to many leaves, and you should always double check after the winter that your gutters are free of leaves and blockages so they can handle spring rain storms. If your gutters are blocked, this can lead to damage, not only of the gutters themselves but also of your home’s exterior walls and foundation. This is because if the rain water isn’t properly routed away from your home, it can get under the siding (especially if it’s damaged) as well as seep into your foundation.
While cleaning your gutters check for these signs of damage:
- Rust
- Cracks
- Mold
- Unsecured/bendy gutters
Check for Damaged Siding
Check and repair damaged siding
- Look for:
- Cracks
- Gaps
- waves/warping
- Rotting
- Water stains
- Holes
- Try to go with a professional to replace siding as they can check for damage underneath and install properly (allow for any expanding and shrinking).
- Also check for cracks in your foundation and schedule a foundation repair.
Grill
Before you plan your first grilling, make sure to do a deep clean of your grill. This should be one once a year to make sure that all parts of your grill are in working order. This way, you have time to either replace these parts or to get a new grill before summer really kicks in.
Spring Home Improvements Outside
Past your yearly maintenance, there are several projects you should keep in mind as well. With warmer weather and longer days, take advantage of these things by making sure your outdoor space is ready for any cookouts and summer lounging.
Decking and Fencing
If these issues are localized, then it’ll be an easy process to buy the necessary supplies. After replacing needed sections you can go ahead and stain (if needed) and seal them. Then, power wash and reseal the rest of the fencing. If your deck and fencing are too damaged, then it’s time to replace them. If you are looking for an upgrade, consider composite decking and vinyl fencing. Both require little maintenance. They just need to be cleaned off every once in a while to keep them as beautiful as the day they were installed.
Screen Doors
Although a quick project, replacing your damaged screen or the entire screen door is essential for keeping those annoying summer bugs out of your home while still enjoying the beautiful weather.
Windows
Your windows won’t always be perfect. Therefore it’s good to check around your windows to see if you need the caulk and weather stripping to be fixed. Or maybe you need to replace the wood around your window because it’s damaged and rotting. Making sure that these parts are in working order will save you on energy costs as your heating and cooling will no longer be leaking out of your home. If this and your windows are getting older, spring is a great time to replace your windows.
Front Door
If your front door is older or is painted, it’s important to keep tabs on it’s condition. An older door may finally need to be replaced. If you have a painted front door, check for chipped paint and plan on repainting this spring.
Spring Home Improvements Inside
Don’t forget to do these projects on the interior of your home. Spring temperatures make it easier to handle these projects and can help make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.
Attic
If it’s not already done, spring is the perfect time to insulate your attic. Before the scorching summer temperatures make your attic a sauna, it will be a simple project. By insulating, you will also increase the energy efficiency of your home as the heat of the summer and cold of the winter can’t enter your home from the attic.
HVAC
One of the best improvements for your home is to have an efficient HVAC system. Since the process of upgrading or adding a system involves taking out the previous HVAC/Heating system, it’s best to do this on a warmer spring day so that you are neither freezing or roasting. Keep in mind that because of spring being such a convenient time to replace these systems, that HVAC companies are going to be very busy, so the sooner you call and schedule an appointment, the better.
Plumbing
Since you will already be going through a spring to-do list, it’s a good idea to add on to check your plumbing and hot water heater. Look around at your plumbing for leaky faucets, clogged drains, and sweaty pipes. You may need to replace or do some maintenance on your plumbing. As well, your hot water heater should be drained to get out deposits once a year.
If everything is good in and outside of your home, it’s time to get everything cleaned, check out our spring cleaning checklist to see how to get your home sparkling clean.
Spring is also a great time to invest in doing bigger projects around the house, such as remodeling your kitchen or building a deck. Shakespeare can help with any of these big remodeling projects, so you can enjoy them not only for the coming summer, but for years to come. Contact us today for a free estimate.