Spring Exterior Home Maintenance Checklist

Certain things should be done once a year to help keep your home in tip-top shape. An inspection of your home’s exterior is one of those things and spring is the perfect time to do it. Finding and fixing a problem while it’s still in the minor stages can mean the difference between a small DIY repair job and cost or a huge repair job with an equally huge cost. Use this exterior home maintenance checklist and give your home’s exterior a thorough inspection as soon as the weather in your area permits.

Check the Roof & Gutters

Start your home inspection at the top and work your way down. Use a ladder to go up on the roof or at least prop the ladder against the roof and do a visual inspection from there. Look for loose or missing shingles, shingles or metal panels that are not lying flush. Anything out of the ordinary could mean a leaky roof is in your near future. For those who don’t want to climb up a ladder, use a pair of binoculars to inspect the roof from ground level. And be sure to check out your gutters for leaves and debris. If they’re full, be sure to have them cleaned to prevent water damage to your property.

Chimney Check

Inspect your home’s chimney while you’re on the roof or using binoculars. Be on the lookout for loose or missing bricks or mortar, white water stains or greenery growing out from the masonry joints. All these chimney issues mean the bricks are absorbing water and the chimney needs to have a water sealant applied. Masonry sealant is a liquid and applied with a brush and will prevent water damage to your chimney and home interior. Continue the chimney inspection at ground level too.

Exterior Walls

Whatever type of siding covers your home’s exterior, there are certain locations that are prone to water damage and wood rot. Window sills, roof eaves and where the downspouts are located are three such locations. Inspect these exterior areas carefully for discoloration and wood splintering, either of which may indicate water damage and potential wood rot.

Windows

Cold temperatures may have caused caulking and weather stripping around windows to crack and become ineffective. The cracks will allow air conditioned air to escape from your home and drive your home’s energy costs up. Replace caulking and weather stripping to make your home more energy efficient.

Foundation

Walk around your home and look at every inch of the foundation. Check for cracks in the masonry, missing or broken brick and standing water. Any of these issues can cause structural damage to the home and should be repaired quickly.