Your house should be your safe haven: a place that shelters you and protects you both from the weather and bad thoughts. However, while a little redecorating and a warm meal can help you feel better, regular house maintenance is essential for your house to keep you covered from snow, rain, and sun.
Many people neglect to check their homes regularly, but that is never a good idea. Your gutters might get cluttered with time, your garage door may need a tune-up, and a leaky faucet can cost you quite a lot of money. To avoid pricey repairs, check your home once a season for damage. If you don’t know what exactly to look out for, don’t worry. Here is our home maintenance checklist.
Gutters
The gutters are often neglected – that is why we recommend regular cleaning for your gutter systems. Make sure that the gutters are in good condition and that there are no holes in them. If they have too much debris, you can remove it by hand. If they are dented or rusty, you can replace them. You should also check for any leaks.
Roof
Your roof is an essential part of your house, and you need to make sure it is always in good condition. When inspecting your roof, check if there are any visible issues (leaks, cracks), but also check for any missing or damaged shingles. You should also check if the ventilator is functioning properly and check the attic for any signs of moisture. If you see any problems, contact your roofer to get it fixed as soon as possible.
Garage Door
A garage door is one of the most common places where people experience issues with their houses. The first thing you should look out for is the condition of the tracks and rollers. They can become rusty over time, which can cause damage to your garage door and the walls of your garage.
If you find any damage, you should replace the tracks and the rollers. You should also check the springs and the belt. If they are damaged, you will need to replace them as well. On the other hand, if the torsion springs are the problem, you might want to check the Garage Door Torsion Springs replace guide.
Gaskets and Weather Stripping
Gaskets and weather stripping play an important role in keeping water outside your home. As such, they should be regularly checked for any damage. The gaskets and weather stripping should also be cleaned regularly, especially in the wintertime when they tend to get covered with snow and ice.
Exterior Walls
Most people don’t pay attention to their exterior walls, and as a result, they don’t notice any problems with them until they are already severe. However, you shouldn’t neglect these walls completely. In addition to checking for any cracks and holes in the walls (which may indicate poor insulation), you should also check the window frames for signs of rot and broken or cracked panes. If you find anything like that, make sure to get them fixed as soon as possible.
Doors
What good is a house if you can’t get in and out of it? It means that your doors aren’t working properly, which can be extremely frustrating. We recommend regular maintenance of your doors to ensure that they last as long as possible. Check the locks and hinges of your doors regularly to make sure they are in good working order. Also, check if they are in good condition overall (no cracks or holes). If there is no sign of damage, regular cleaning and maintenance should be enough to keep your doors in shape.
Windows
You should check if there are any holes in the windows; if there are, replace them as soon as possible, though that’s rather obvious. However, apart from that, also make sure to check the glazing around the windows for signs of wear and tear (they should not be chipped or cracked). If there are chips or cracks, get them repaired as soon as possible to prevent water from seeping into your house through the window frames.
Also, check all the locks on the windows (including the screens) and make sure they are working properly before letting anyone use them again when the winter or summer season ends.
Siding
Siding serves an important purpose in protecting your house from the weather. It keeps rainwater from entering your house through gaps between two different materials. However, it needs to be maintained in order to do its job properly. First of all, you should check if there are any gaps between the siding and other materials (such as bricks or wood). If there are gaps, seal them with caulk or foam sealant immediately to prevent water from entering your home through them.
Finally, you should check if there is any damage to the siding itself (for example, dents or cracks) and fix them as soon as possible, so they don’t expand over time and cause even more damage. If you have a deck installed, check around any problems and maintain it regularly. Replace any broken deck railing system, and make sure there are no missing boards.
Driveway and Walkways
Driveways and walkways are easy to forget about, but they shouldn’t be (especially in the winter time). You should check your driveway and walkways for cracks, holes, or breaks. If you find any, you should fix them as soon as possible. This way you prevent water from seeping through cracks or holes into your house. Also, check for any loose stones in your driveway; if there are any, you should remove them to prevent them from damaging your tires.
Conclusion
Sometimes, you might not feel like immediately taking care of the issues in your home. But, when you neglect your house for too long, you might end up spending a lot more money than you would if you had just cleaned up those gutters the last time you checked them instead. That is why we recommend that you check your house regularly to make sure that everything is in order. And if something is out of place, make sure to fix it as soon as possible.
