Prepping Your Home for Spring

Officially, the first day of spring is March 20^th. With less than a month between now and then, it’s important to get some spring home prep on your radar. Before Mother Nature brings out the sunshine and warm breezes, it’s important to assess what the chilly, grey days of winter have done to your home. Getting ahead of any necessary maintenance can save you money and give you more time to get out and enjoy the great weather that’s about to arrive!

Look Up

The rain, sleet and snow of winter can wreak havoc on your roof all by themselves. Throw in some intense summer sun on those weakened shingles, and you could need a completely new roof by Labor Day. Spring is a great time to repair the winter damage before summer damage compounds the problem. Look to see if any shingles were lost, cracked, warped, loose, or otherwise missing granules. They will need replaced. Flashing around chimneys, plumbing vents and skylights also needs a once-over.

Chimneys specifically need inspected for any damage, and it doesn’t hurt to have the flue cleaned and inspected by a professional. You’ll thank yourself when crisp autumn nights roll around again, and you want to throw a log on the fire.

Moving down the roofline, check all gutters. Loose or leaky gutters need repaired, and make sure to clear any debris. Piles of leaves trapped in the gutter can not only cause rust, but can also lead to improper drainage and potential basement flooding.

Look Down

Take a look at walkways and driveways for damage. Concreate can become cracked or even shift due to inclement weather. To avoid foundation damage (not to mention make a safer walkway) make sure to fill any cracks with concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. Once that is settled, power-wash the entire surface and seal the concreate.

Winter weather can also damage exterior wood. Whether it’s your deck, railings, steps, or even trim around windows and doors, take care to inspect all exposed wood as compromised wood (especially things that hold weight like railings and decks) can lead to serious injury. Probe the wood with a screwdriver to test for structural integrity. Any repairs should be made promptly, from resealing a deck to completely replacing a railing.

Faucets also need to be inspected for damage caused by our old friend, Jack Frost. To know if your piping suffers from freeze damage, turn the faucet on and hold your finger over the opening. If you can completely stop the water flow, chances are the pipes need replaced. No one wants to hook up the hose for some springtime fun in the sprinklers to find they inadvertently flooded their entire home. Also check garden hoses for cracking and dry rot while you’re near the faucet.

Out Back

Speaking of gardens, it’s important to fill low areas in the yard and any areas near the home’s foundation with compacted soil. This will help prevent flooding from spring rains, protecting your foundation and your home from water damage. It will also keep your backyard from turning into a mosquito breeding ground, as low areas tend to trap water for days. You want to spend spring night on the back porch with family and friends – not the swarm of insects that just hatched in your yard.

If firewood is stacked near your home, you will also want to move it at least two feet away and 18 inches off the ground. Piles of firewood can easily become home to creepy crawlies and rodents in the spring. Find a place to store it or mulch it up for use in the garden. With the warm weather on its way, you won’t be spending nights curled up by the fire, anyway!

Power Up

As the fireplace winds down for another year, the air conditioning unit is just starting to shake off the slumber of winter. It is in your best interest to have a qualified repairman clean and service the outside unit to make sure it is operational. It’s not a great start to the season if you turn on the air on a particularly warm spring day only to find the unit kicked the bucket. In addition, clean coils operate more efficiently, saving you some extra green when the energy bill comes.

Extra greenery is great in your wallet, but not so much in the form of an overgrown yard. Test all of your gas and/or battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure it is still operational. Clean equipment and sharp blades will make that first Sunday morning mowing the lawn a welcome introduction to spring, instead of a frustrating afternoon tearing apart the lawnmower in the garage.

If you’re looking out the window at fifty shades of gray dreaming of bright flowers and warm rays of sun, never fear. Before you know it, you’ll be trading snow angels for sunbathing and hot cocoa for iced tea. Here at GCD, we know the next few months are some of the most beautiful our state has to offer, and we want you to be able to enjoy it to its fullest. Invest a little effort now, and save a lot of headaches and cost down the line!