3 Tips for Spring Home Maintenance

Spring is a beautiful time of the year when everything is new again. It’s also a great time to spot problems with your home. If you aren’t maintaining your home properly, you might have problems in the form of roof leaks, insect invasions, and other issues.

Read on for some home maintenance tasks to tackle this spring.

1. Clean and Inspect Your Gutters

Be sure to clean and inspect your gutters this spring. Leaves, twigs, tree buds, and other debris can all accumulate in your gutters. If you don’t clean them out, they may eventually clog your gutters. Then the rainwater won’t drain properly and your gutters will overflow.

An overflowing gutter can eventually soak into your roof, soffit, and fascia. This moisture can rot the wood in your roof and leave you with water damage inside your home. Water damage to your home can then cause mold or mildew to grow, which can lead to health issues for you and your family.

Avoid these problems by cleaning your gutters. Get up onto a ladder yourself to get this job done, or hire a professional to do this work for you.

While you are cleaning your gutters, you’ll need to also inspect your gutters to be sure they are held in place properly and aren’t sagging or pulling away from the house. If your gutters sag or pull away from the house, they won’t be able to do their job properly.

To fix this problem, add new gutter nails or gutter hangers, which you can find at your local hardware store.

2. Repair Wood Rot and Caulk Windows and Doors

Go around your home and inspect your windows and doors both inside and outside. Look for signs of rotting if you have wood around your windows or doors. If you do, replace the wood. If you aren’t too handy with tools (or lumber), hire a professional to make the necessary repairs.

In addition to replacing rotten wood around windows and doors, inspect the caulking for issues. Remove any old caulking with a razor blade, and then clean the area thoroughly. Once the area is clean, add new caulking around all of your windows and doors, both inside and outside. Use your finger to smooth the caulk and wipe off any excess with a wet cloth.

You can find silicone caulk and a caulk gun at your local hardware store. These products are easy to use; simply follow the instructions that come with them.

3. Inspect Your Roof

Weather can do a lot of damage to your roof. If you aren’t paying attention to the shape your roof is in, you may already have some damage and not even be aware of it. You can inspect your roof in a number of ways.

First, look at your roof from the road and check for wet spots. Wet spots may indicate a leak in the roof. Also, look for missing shingles or shingles that are curling.

Next, inspect your gutters and the area around your home for shingle granules. If you see a lot of granules, your shingles may not be able to protect your home properly and may need to be replaced.

If you desire, get up onto your roof and walk around to take a closer look. If you feel any soft spots on your roof, walk carefully to prevent falling through. Check around vents and chimneys to be sure the flashing is in good condition and has no leaks.

If you’ve spotted any of the issues listed above with your roof, call a professional roofer to have your roof repaired or replaced altogether.

Home maintenance is essential in preventing future problems with your home. Contact Jerry Newman Roofing & Remodeling Inc for all of your home maintenance and repair needs.