Our Spring Cleaning List for Your Home’s Exterior

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the trees are budding and your home’s exterior is screaming for a little attention.

The exterior of your home does a lot for you. It protects you from the elements, keeps you warm and dry or cool and dry in the summer. Keeping it well-maintained and clean can not only keep your home’s outside appearance in tip-top shape but also help you prevent costly repairs caused by neglect.

So we put together a  spring cleaning checklist for your home’s exterior:

Roof

Seeing as we are roofers, I figured we would start with the roof. Spring is the perfect time to check your roof for any damage and make any repairs and clean off any debris you didn’t get to before the winter hit. If you noticed high heating costs over the winter, discovered mold or mildew on the roof or on ceilings or walls inside your home, or can see damaged or missing shingles, you certainly want to make this a priority to get fixed.

Gutters

Gutters are often overlooked when it comes to keeping up with home maintenance. Make sure that any debris gets cleared away from both the actual gutter and all the downspouts. If downspouts are clogged, you can use a plumber’s snake to break through. Clogged gutters prevent water from draining away from your home, and can cause damage to your home.

Windows

The spring pollen and dirt can build up on your windows, so take the time to give them a good cleaning once the pollen has settled a bit. Using crumpled newspaper and a spray mix of vinegar and warm water can clean your windows naturally and without streaking. Vinegar is a great natural cleaner that can be used for a number of different cleaning projects around the house.

Siding

This one’s pretty easy. Pressure wash your siding to remove any grime and build up. Make sure to start at the top of your home and work your way down, so that dirt and water runs down and doesn’t create more work for you. You can rent a pressure washer from your local home store or check on Amazon for one of the many sales they run every week.

You’re also going to want to check for any damaged siding. Just like with your roof, high energy bills, and mold or mildew on interior walls could be a sign of an exterior problem.

Patio / Deck

Your patio or deck is another candidate for a good pressure washing. Pressure washers just use water to blast away dirt and grime. (So no need for any harsh chemicals!)

The Yard

From weeding garden beds to mulching, your yard is in just as much need as your home’s exterior. The first thing you do is survey your yard and make notes of the work that needs to be done. Next, check out your tools and make sure they’re all in working order.

Finally, it’s time to get to work on getting trees pruned, leaves and debris raked, grass mowed and the garden prepped for planting. Fra-Dor Inc. has a good list of tasks for getting your yard ready spring.

Other Outside Stuff

There’s plenty of other outdoor things such as fences, birdhouses and bird feeders, or any other small structures in your yard that will need a little attention this spring. Inspect them, clean them and make any necessary repairs. These are probably some of the easiest projects to help make your home’s exterior sparkle this spring.

If you find that your roof, is in need of repair or replacement, we would be happy to come take a look or answer any questions you might have. Just drop DYMI Construction a line or give us a call.