Keeping your home in tip-top shape can be challenging, especially if you have a busy schedule or don’t know much about home maintenance. If you need some help with basic exterior housekeeping, here are five tips to keep your home looking its best:
1. Check your exterior paint
The first thing you should do is check the color of your home. Is it the same as before? If so, great! If not, it could be a sign of peeling paint and cracks in the wood. To test whether or not there’s any cracking going on and to check if there is rot, lie down on your stomach with your head close to where you want to inspect.
From this vantage point, look straight ahead at the bottom edge of one plank of wood (don’t use boards). The planks should look like they’re joined together tightly, so it’s hard for light to pass through them; if they don’t appear well connected, there may be some rot in those areas that need attention.
2. Look for damage to your exterior sidings
Now that you know what to look for when inspecting your home’s siding, it’s time to address any damage. Your main goal here is to ensure the siding is in good condition so you can avoid unnecessary repairs down the road.
So, if there are cracks or stains on your sidings (or even just a few small holes), repair them as soon as possible with a product like caulk or wood putty. If the damage is more extensive than a small crack or hole, consider hiring an exterior painting expert from a reputable company—they’ll be able to look at the entire surface and determine whether anything else needs repair before painting begins.
If you’re looking into repairing an area yourself, keep in mind that it might require some skill and knowledge beyond what you currently possess but don’t worry! Plenty of do-it-yourself instructions are available online for almost every type of material used in siding construction today, vinyl being one example.
3. Check for roof damage
A roof is the single most important part of your home’s exterior, so it’s important to check for damage regularly.
When checking for roof damage, look for missing or damaged shingles and flashing. The flashing can be damaged by tree branches or landscaping items such as bushes and flowers that may have been planted too close to your home’s foundation.
You should also check for any damage to your gutters, which carry rainwater away from your home’s exterior. If they’re full of debris from fallen leaves or other debris from trees, you should clean them out before winter arrives so ice doesn’t build up inside them during cold-weather months.
Finally, ensure there aren’t any cracks in your chimney that could allow water in over time or even worse: heat loss.
4. Check for window damage
There are a few things to look for when checking the health of your windows. First and foremost, you want to check for cracks and chips in any glass surfaces on your window frames. If you see these, they can be repaired easily with tinted caulking or plastic kits that can be purchased at most hardware stores.
The next thing is to ensure there aren’t any broken seals around the glass panes or anywhere else on the frame that might cause air leaks or drafts coming into your home. This can be a serious problem if it goes unchecked because it will lead to higher energy bills and more wear and tear on your HVAC system due to having to work harder than normal.
Lastly, double-check all locks between screens are locked properly, so no one accidentally walks away from their house with them still opened up. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you’d think. If you need help with window damage or just want to replace your windows, you can contact a service similar to Energy Shield Window & Door Company for help.
5. Inspect your driveway and make repairs if necessary
Check for cracks and potholes. Your driveway is a large investment, so ensure it’s in good condition before the winter weather sets in. Look for damage to curbs, sidewalks, and the concrete itself. While you’re at it, inspect your yard and sidewalk, too—if they need repair or replacement, now is a great time to do so while they are accessible.
Conclusion
We hope these tips will help you keep your home in tip-top shape. As always, if you have any additional questions or need more help with your exterior home maintenance needs, please do not hesitate to contact us!
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