Summer Home Maintenance Tips to Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal

Seasonal wear and tear can take its toll on things like weather sealing and caulking around doors and windows, wooden structures and the siding around your home, appliances, and even your curb appeal.  Late spring is the perfect time to get a jumpstart on freshening up your home and knocking out some of those maintenance to-do’s that have been lingering over your head the past few months.

Your summer home maintenance checklist:

First, assess any damage that might’ve popped up over winter and spring

This is one of the least fun maintenance tasks, but catching and repairing damage early on can save you loads of money and trouble in the long run. At the start of each season, particularly summer and winter, take a stroll around the inside and outside of your home and make a list of things like leaks, cracks, gaps, chips, and signs of mold or mildew. Repairing these types of issues can prevent more serious harm, such as water damage, drafts, and bug infestations. Plus, you don’t want to power wash your home before checking for necessary repairs if you suspect any areas are prone to leaking or water damage.  When it comes to home improvement, fixing it before it becomes a larger problem is generally the safest way to save money and time as a homeowner.

Clean out those gutters and downspouts.

Now that winter’s snow and ice and spring’s plentiful rain showers have moved on, your gutters could probably use some TLC. Remove any debris to take off unnecessary weight and prevent clogs. Congested gutters could lead to external, superficial damage at best and serious water damage at their worst, so be sure to tackle those ASAP!

Wash, well, everything.

Winter and spring wreak havoc on your curb appeal and can leave areas like porches, decks, walkways, and even the siding on your home looking grimy and grungy.

Wash windows, storm doors, and other glass surfaces front and back, remove and hose off window and door screens, and don’t forget to wash the window panes.

Pressure wash your driveways, carports, sidewalks, stairs, decks, and porches. You can also power wash your home depending on the exterior materials. You may want to consider hiring a professional to clean the exterior of your home to prevent accidental (and expensive) damage with a pressure washer. Whatever you do, don’t power wash your roof. While it certainly needs to be cleaned every few years, do yourself a favor and hire a professional. Otherwise, you risk causing serious damage to the structure of your roof, which isn’t a cheap fix.

Don’t forget outdoor living spaces and appliances like your chiminea, fire pit, or grill (and if you don’t have one, go get one!)

Whether you have a charcoal grill or a gas grill, you can use a grill brush to remove ash, soot, and debris from last year’s grilling season. For a charcoal grill, simply give it a good scrub with hot water, soap, and a grill brush. For a gas grill, turn up the heat and close the lid to burn off any debris. Then, scrub off the remnants with a good grill brush. Wash any outdoor ceiling fan blades, patio furniture, and decor with hot, soapy water and let them air dry.

There’s no way around it, responsible homeownership is a lot of work, but it’s so worth it, right? The thing is, home maintenance does take some time away from things you’d probably rather spend your time doing, like brunch with your friends, sporting events with your family, and even just lounging around and actually enjoying your home. If you’re someone who sees home maintenance as more of a hassle than a privilege, you’re not alone. Like many other folks out there, you might thrive in a maintenance free home.

See if maintenance free living sounds like the right fit for you by checking out: What Exactly is Maintenance Free Living?