Home Projects: Exterior Maintenance

Today in Grand Rapids Michigan it is fifty three degrees outside and many of us are on lockdown at home so why not get some of those routine things out of the way so that when this all turns around, we can get out and ENJOY the warmth- are you with us?! If so, read on…

Rake the yard

A fairly straight forward and simple task and bonus; it’s gets your body moving after all those hours spent scrolling social. Yard waste bags can be picked up at most local grocery stores.

Clean your gutters and down spouts

Pull leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that have pulled away from the house (this can sometimes happen over the winter when ice damming occurs and gutters get heavy. This is especially true for those of us who leave in homes built in the early 1900s) Once clear of leaves etc, run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage. If leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak.

Check for areas that may be starting to crumble

If your home has concrete or brick exterior (this also goes for stairs and foundations) areas that are starting to give away may be a sign that water and moisture is getting in somewhere. If that is the case, you will want to first determine where the wetness is entering- sometimes this make take a bit of trial and error, the only way to test it is to remove any debris that is in the crack and fill it with caulk. In image three you can see that a crack has formed between the concrete stairs and the brick, this is likely what is causing the large cracks and crumbling brick near the bottom of the image. Repairing this now will help avoid a much larger problem in the future.

Replace caulk around doors, windows, and foundation

Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating. Scrape out all of the eroding caulk and re-caulk the area. Many people think that caulking once is enough, but caulk is something that deteriorates over time and needs to be replaced every couple years.

Siding, Decks and Fences

To keep mold from growing, check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure. If wood is showing through, sand the immediate area and apply a primer coat before painting. If paint is peeling, scrape loose paint and sand smooth before painting. If you have vinyl siding you’ll want to power-wash your siding once a year. A power washer can be rented from your local home supply stores like Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards.

Window Sills and Door Screens

Dust off the screen frames. Clean the screens and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a quarter, that is plenty room for bugs to climb in. Patch holes or replace the screen. If you have to replace a screen, you can always save the good pieces of the damaged screen to patch holes next year. Tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint. Replace broken, worn, or missing hardware. Wind can ruin screens and frames if they are allowed flap and move so make sure they are securely fastened. Tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers.

Check your dryer vent

Lint builds up over time and if you want your dryer to run efficiently, you’ll want to clear the lint from this vent.

Here are a few things you can do to get your home exterior in tip top shape for warmer weather.

1. Rake the yard
   A fairly straight forward and simple task and bonus; it’s gets your body moving after all those hours spent scrolling social. Yard waste bags can be picked up at most local grocery stores.

2. Clean your gutters
   Pull leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that have pulled away from the house (this can sometimes happen over the winter when ice damming occurs and gutters get heavy. This is especially true for those of us who leave in homes built in the early 1900s) Once clear of leaves etc. run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage. If leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak.

3. Check for areas that may be starting to crumble (image 3)
   If your home has concrete or brick exterior (this also goes for stairs and foundations) areas that are starting to give away may be a sign that water and moisture is getting in somewhere. If that is the case, you will want to first determine where the wetness is entering. Sometimes this may take a bit of trial and error. The only way to test it is to remove any debris that is in the crack and fill it with caulk. In image three you can see that a crack has formed between the concrete stairs and the brick. This is likely what is causing the large cracks and crumbling brick near the bottom of the image. Repairing this now will help avoid a much larger problem in the future.

4. Replace caulk around doors, windows, and foundation
   Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating. Scrape out all of the eroding caulk and re-caulk the area. Many people think that caulking once is enough, but caulk is something that deteriorates over time and needs to be replaced every couple years.

5. Siding, Decks and Fences
   To keep mold from growing, check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure. If wood is showing through, sand the immediate area and apply a primer coat before painting. If paint is peeling, scrape loose paint and sand smooth before painting. If you have vinyl siding you’ll want to power-wash your siding once a year. A power washer can be rented from your local home supply stores like Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards.

6. Window Sills and Door Screens
   Dust off the screen frames. Clean the screens and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a quarter, that is plenty room for bugs to climb in. Patch holes or replace the screen. If you have to replace a screen, you can always save the good pieces of the damaged screen to patch holes next year. Tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint. Replace broken, worn, or missing hardware. Wind can ruin screens and frames if they are allowed to flap and move so make sure they are securely fastened. Tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers.

7. Check your dryer vent
   Lint builds up over time and if you want your dryer to run efficiently, you’ll want to clear the lint from this vent.

We hope this gives you some ideas for getting started. These are all excellent things you can do to ensure proper maintenance of your home and protect against potential future problems. Happy cleaning!