Exterior Home Maintenance Checklist for Every Season
The exterior of your home is constantly exposed to the elements, and especially as someone local to the Central Massachusetts area who has to deal with the New England climate, it’s important to schedule seasonal maintenance throughout the year. Each season brings its own unique set of challenges to your home’s exterior, but staying on top of seasonal maintenance needs can help protect your home from the elements in addition to helping you avoid costly repairs. Not to mention, regular maintenance also keeps your home looking and performing its best for a long time to come, preserving its value. So, what should you be doing in each season to better maintain your Central Massachusetts home? Scott’s Siding & Remodeling has put together an exterior home maintenance checklist for every season so that you can be better prepared year-round.
An Exterior Home Maintenance Checklist for the Spring
The first thing to do regarding home maintenance in the spring is to assess any damage that was caused by the wintertime conditions. You can inspect your roof for missing shingles, damaged flashing, or signs of leaking. After all, heavy snow, ice, and wind can take their toll during the colder months. Beyond that, cleaning your gutters and downspouts is a must. Remove any twigs, leaves, or other debris so that any rain from spring showers can move freely through the system.
Walking around your home’s exterior and checking your siding for cracks, loose panels, mold, or moisture damage is also a big step in the spring exterior home maintenance process, as is examining decks, patios, fences, and your home’s foundation for signs of shifting, cracking, or general wear and tear that occurred during the winter months.
An Exterior Home Maintenance Checklist for the Summer
Given the warmth of the summer, this is when exterior home improvement projects and preventative maintenance make the most sense. Wash your siding in an effort to remove dirt, pollen, algae, and mildew that accumulated during the spring months. Additionally, take the time to have your tree branches and shrubs trimmed, especially if they’re growing too close to your roof or siding, as overgrown landscaping can lead to trapped moisture, pest infestations, and an increased risk of storm damage.
At the same time, you’ll want to check exterior lighting, outlets, and other outdoor electrical fixtures to make sure everything is working safely. Running a routine check on your sprinkler system is a worthwhile step in the summer maintenance process as well.
An Exterior Home Maintenance Checklist for the Fall
When the fall arrives, your exterior home maintenance will be about preparing for the winter months. Make sure you clean leaves and debris from your gutters, downspouts, and roof valleys to avoid clogs that can result in water damage or the formation of ice dams. Schedule a roof inspection before snow begins to fall, too, as you’ll want to have any repairs completed before winter storms come around.
In addition to the roofing maintenance you’ll need, you’ll also need to seal any gaps around your windows or doors with fresh caulking or weatherstripping to reduce drafts and maintain a high level of energy efficiency during the colder months. And if your home has a chimney, schedule an inspection and cleaning before you’ll need to use your fireplace. Finally, before the winter arrives, be sure to disconnect your garden hoses, winterize your outdoor faucets, and remove any dead tree limbs that could fall when the snow comes down.
An Exterior Home Maintenance Checklist for the Winter
The winter conditions can limit outdoor projects, especially in Central Massachusetts. But you’ll still need to monitor your home’s exterior nonetheless. Keep an eye on your roof after major snowstorms, clear snow and ice from walkways, driveways, and entryways when you can, and take note of any drafts or condensation you experience with your windows and doors.
Inspecting your roof and siding after particularly severe snowstorms is always smart, too, and you’ll also need to make sure snow isn’t blocking vents, HVAC equipment, or other essential exterior systems. While there’s little to do in the way of actual exterior work during these colder months, keeping a running list of any issues you run into can make it easier when the weather does permit more exterior home maintenance projects.
Reach Out for Exterior Home Maintenance in Central Massachusetts Today
For anything to do with preparing your home’s roof, siding, windows and doors, decks, and gutters for each and every season we experience in Central Massachusetts, Scott’s Siding & Remodeling is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your exterior home maintenance needs as soon as possible.
