06 November

Wet & Forget’s Can’t-Miss Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Your home is your biggest investment, and the place where you make memories with your family as you watch them grow. A lack of regular maintenance can allow small problems to become big, expensive ones that lower your home’s value and make it a less comfortable place to live. Spring is a key time to catch up on home maintenance, and fix any problems that have popped up over the winter. Protect your home with this 5-step essential springtime checklist!

• Windows

Your windows are probably looking a little grimy after months without being washed, which makes springtime the perfect time to give them a good scrubbing. While you’re at it, do a visual inspection of the caulking around each window, and make sure that the narrow metal rain shield is still in place above each window. A good seal around each window will save you money on your air conditioning bill this summer and prevent moisture from infiltrating the wall around the window. The metal stripping above the window is simple and inexpensive to replace if you need to, and can prevent costly water damage caused by spring rain.

• Driveway

The winter’s freezes and thaws can wreak havoc on your driveway the same way that they cause all of those potholes in the streets. Now that the season’s freezes are (hopefully) over, this is the perfect time to check for any new cracks that may have appeared in your driveway. Whether your driveway is concrete or asphalt, it’s very important to find and repair any cracks now, before the spring rains and the weed growth that follows have a chance to make the cracks bigger.

Once you’ve repaired any cracks, get rid of any moss, green or black algae, lichen, mold or mildew on your driveway with Wet & Forget Outdoor. This will improve your driveway’s appearance, eliminate slippery spots caused by algae or other growths, and prepare your driveway for spring sealcoating.

• Roof

Your roof protects your home from the elements, and winter weather and debris can leave damage behind. Spring’s abundant rainfall will find any tiny crack in your roof’s surface and cause water damage in your home. A springtime roof inspection will help you catch any problems that have developed over the winter and make a small repair now, instead of a big repair later.

One important part of a roof inspection is checking for moss growth which, if left unchecked, can damage your roof. If you find any moss, lichen, green or black algae or mold and mildew, treat your roof with Wet & Forget Outdoor to eliminate the problem with no need for bleaching, scrubbing or power washing.

• Gutters and Downspouts

The same spring rain that can cause a problem on your roof can also be a big problem for your home’s foundation. To safely divert water away from the foundation and prevent damage, the Foundation Repair Association recommends cleaning and inspecting your home’s rain gutters and downspouts in the spring and fall. They also recommend downspout extenders that are at least 5 feet long to release the rain water a safe distance from your home’s foundation.

If you need to clean your roof this season, keep in mind that the tools you use can also affect your home’s gutters and downspouts. One wrong move with a pressure washer can bend rain gutters or knock them out of alignment, and caustic chemicals such as bleach can corrode the downspouts. Instead, wipe out ugly growths on your roof with Wet & Forget Outdoor, and protect your home’s vital rain-removal system.

• Lawn Grading

It’s probably not something you think about very often, but proper lawn grading is key for diverting water away from concrete surfaces, where excessive water can cause cracking. A well-graded lawn is also necessary for a dry basement or crawl space; no matter how well you try to seal your basement, water will always get in if your lawn’s grading causes water to run towards your basement.

Winter’s freezes and thaws, as well as other factors such as burrowing animals, can interfere with the grade of the land around your house. To keep water off of your home’s foundation and out of the basement or crawl space, make sure that the level of the lawn drops six vertical inches in the first ten feet leading away from your home.

Use this basic 5-step checklist this spring to keep your home comfortable and beautiful, protect your investment, and get ready for a wonderful summer!

What do you have on your checklist this spring? Leave a comment; we’d love to hear from you!