Your home is your pride and joy, but it can be easy to forget about the exterior. You might spend time cleaning, decorating and renovating the inside, but the outside is equally as important. The exterior of your home is its first line of defense against the elements. When outdoor problems go untreated, they can often lead to issues inside. This is why speaking to experts who understand the needs of your area, such as the quirks of Portland backyard design to name an example, can be very helpful.
Get in the habit of doing a weekly walkaround to identify if anything has changed or needs fixing. Use a maintenance checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything. Here are some of the best ways you can maintain the exterior of your home.
1. Keep an eye on your roof
Your roof is what protects the rest of your home from damage due to weather. If there’s a storm, your roof stops the rain from permeating through. If even one shingle comes loose, it can cause lots of expensive damage. Keep an eye on your roof to identify if any shingle tiles fall off so you can replace them right away. You may be able to adhere to the shingle yourself or hire a handyman to do the job. If you leave it too long and it leads to additional damage, then it could end up costing you more to get a professional roofing team involved.
2. Foundation maintenance
Equally as important as the roof is the foundation that holds up your house. Broken foundation can lead to huge problems if it goes untreated. The longer you wait, the more it will crack, and the harder it will be to repair. If you notice any cracks call a masonry expert who can come and discuss a solution or if you’re handy, patch the crack yourself. Foundation cracks can lead to leaks in your home, which can contribute to mold and other damages.
3. Clean the gutters
If you live in an area that has trees nearby, it’s essential to have your gutters cleaned regularly. Debris such as branches, leaves, seeds, and petals can build up in your gutters and cause blockages. Blocked gutters will not allow the water to drain off your roof and can end up causing leaks or lulls in the gutter. Critters may also build their homes in clogged gutters as well. If you live in a relatively dry area with limited vegetation, then cleaning them once a year may be sufficient. Otherwise, aim to have a professional gutter and roofing specialist unclog your gutters 2 to 3 times per year.
4. Cut back landscaping
If you have any landscaping up against your house, make sure to cut it back regularly. Bushes, shrubs, trees, or plants that are in constant contact with the exterior of your home can cause expensive damages over time. If you have exterior paint, it may be scratched off, meaning you would have to repaint. Mildew can also buildup because of the constant moisture locked between the plant and the walls of your house.
It only takes a few minutes to assess the exterior of your house. A quick walkaround can raise red flags about issues that may cause damages if left untreated.
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