How to Stay on Top Of Exterior Home Maintenance

As the saying goes, first impressions are everything, and this is especially true when it comes to your home's exterior. A well-maintained exterior can significantly enhance your home’s overall look and feel, making it more inviting and visually appealing! Besides, it can also increase the value of your property and turn it into a more attractive option for potential buyers or renters. But that’s just a bonus, right?

Now, with that said, it's essential to take preventative measures and stay on top of maintenance tasks for your home's exterior. This can include everything from regular cleaning and painting to repairing any cracks or leaks. Investing time and effort into maintaining your home's exterior can save you a lot of money and hassle in the long run, when you really think about it!

In this article, we'll provide you with some essential tips and tricks for keeping your home's exterior in tip-top shape. Whether you're a long-time homeowner or a first-time buyer, these tips will help you ensure your home looks excellent and stays protected from the dreaded elements!

Clean Your Gutters

While this may sound obvious to some - gutters play a crucial role in protecting your home's foundation and structural integrity from water damage. After all, without properly functioning gutters, rainwater can accumulate around the foundation of your home, leading to basement flooding, damage to the walls and ceilings, and even structural damage. Yikes!

As such, it's important to ensure that your gutters are clean and functioning properly. Gutters can become clogged with leaves, twigs, dirt, and other debris over time. When this happens, water can't flow freely through the gutters and can overflow, leading to potential water damage. Oh, and as for cleaning frequency – it's recommended to clean your gutters at least twice a year, in the spring and fall.

Wash and Inspect

Over time, your home's siding can become quite the dingy eyesore. Pressure washing effectively removes dirt and grime from your siding, leaving it looking clean and fresh. You can rent a pressure washer from your local home improvement store, or, better yet, hire a professional service like YourHomeFix to do it for you!

And while we’re talking about siding, what about the top? It's basically necessary to inspect your roof regularly, not just for cleaning purposes, but for signs of damage or wear and tear. Look for missing or damaged shingles, cracks in the roof, or areas where water may be pooling. If you notice any issues, it's best to have them repaired as soon as possible. No “sitting and waiting it out” with this one!

Trim Your Trees and Bushes

Trees and bushes can enhance your home's curb appeal, but they can also cause damage if they're not properly maintained. Nature is scary when all is said and done. Moreover, overgrown trees and bushes can rub against your home's siding or roof. It's vital that you trim your trees and bushes regularly to prevent this from happening.

While it may not seem so at first, trimming can be a dangerous task, especially if the “culprits” are located near power lines or require the use of heavy equipment. Professional tree and bush trimmers have the proper training, equipment, and experience to safely and effectively trim your trees and bushes, ensuring that they remain healthy and your home remains safe. We probably don’t need to tell you that’s a top priority!

Seal Your Windows and Doors

Sealing the external facets of your household – an effective way of keeping a home's interior comfortable; a way of reducing energy bills; a way of minimizing noise. Did we miss anything? You probably get the point.

Self-evident digressions aside, many homeowners forget that the seals around their windows and doors can become worn and damaged, allowing air to leak in or out. By replacing these seals, one can prevent drafts and keep their home more, let’s say, hospitable.

One major yet underrated advantage of sealing your household is that it can help to improve indoor air quality by preventing the infiltration of outdoor pollutants and allergens. This is especially important for individuals with allergies or respiratory issues, as poor indoor air quality can worsen symptoms and lead to other not-so-great health problems.

Ultimately, maintaining your home's exterior is all about finding a balance between practicality and personality. By staying on top of maintenance tasks and injecting some fun and creativity into the process, you can keep your home looking great and protect it against external afflicters – whether they be the forces of nature or even aging itself.