#bugs and mold likely come in from gaps where foundation shifted

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[easydoesittile]

31 Tips to Prepare your Home and Property for Spring

🌸Spring.

It is closer than you think.

How do we take great care of our home and yard to ensure we get the most life out of it?

We thought about it and decided to put together a list of things you can do, or have someone do to keep your home and property at it's very best! Helping to be sure it will last for years to come.

In most cases, just a few minutes of work can save you from the potential of a much more serious issue. What do they say? Short term pain for long term gain? That sounds fair.

People love to do the right thing, but find it better to have guidelines to help them make the most efficient decisions. To make this easier, this list is broken into 3 parts;

Exterior of the home.

Interior of the home.

Yard and Surrounding Structures.

These are broken down so you can easily tackle one section per weekend, leading up to Spring.

Then you will be ready to bring on the grill weather without worry!

Let's start with the Exterior of the Home.

Change in temperature and more severe weather (snow, ice, cold, freezing, extreme changes) can cause your home to react in ways that could cause potential harm to the home if left untreated. A simple scan and repair list can make a world of difference to the life and health of your home. Let's take a look at the Exterior Checklist.

Exterior of the Home Checklist

1. Roof

Examine the roof for loose or missing shingles, as well as any damage to pipes in the roof area. It is important to note that you do not need to get on the ladder yourself to check, you can use your eye, your phone to zoom in, or even binoculars to check it out. *If you feel your roof needs further inspection, call a professional home inspector or roofer, do not attempt to get on the roof without proper training or equipment. Always safety first.*

2. Exterior Walls (Siding/Wood Shingles/Wood/Stucco/Masonry)

Check to see if the walls of the home are in good standing. Check for loose shingles, loose siding, peeling paint or stucco, or loose or crumbling masonry. If you see that your home has any of these issues, it would be a good idea to enact a plan to make sure you are able to strengthen the surfaces so they are ready for the rain and sun to come. If you are unable to do it yourself, find someone in your area that has a great reputation and can assist you with any repairs, treatments, or replacements you may need to get your exterior walls back in good standing. This is also a good time to paint once you are sure the structure is good.

3. Chimney

Masonry can shift in the weather, bricks can become loose or start to crumble. A regular inspection can help you find problems early and fix them in time before they become more serious. Check for crumbling cement, decaying bricks, or pieces that have fallen. If the chimney looks like it has shifted you may want to reinforce the strength of the structure as soon as you can, get someone with expertise in the area to take a look. Most (not all) companies offer a free quote.

4. Foundation

The foundation can shift and crack in the weather as well. If you take a walk around the perimeter of your home you will search for any cracks, bulges, holes, or stress marks (discoloration) in the foundation. Some are an easy fix, but the sooner you find and repair them, the less problematic they will be for the future. Cracks in the foundation often start causing leaks or endanger the stability of the home structure.

5. Doors/Windows/Screens (Including garage doors)

Weatherstrips around the doors and windows can be deteriorated over the winter. A quick scan, some caulking, and a bit of paint can lengthen the life of your doors and windows. Check for any damage to the doors and windows themselves, as well as the casings around the doors and windows. Check for signs of water damage. Check the hinges on the doors, and windows, see that they are not rotten, they are not rusty, and that they are well oiled and working with ease. The window and door screens will need an inspection for holes and rot. If you see a hole it can be as easy as a screen repair kit available at most hardware stores, or as complicated as needing a new screen. Either way, you are protecting your home from unwanted insects and critters.

6. Outdoor Faucets

Inspect your outdoor faucets to be sure they work, as well as to be sure they are receiving the amount of pressure they need. A great tip from HGTV is to put your thumb or finger over the spout if putting the thumb/finger there causes the water flow to stop you may have damaged pipes in the home and you should look at getting a plumber to have a look at it.

7. Gutters

Heavy snow and ice can weigh on your gutter system. Spring is a great time to inspect your gutter for any debris, gaps, loose or broken pieces, holes, or overall damage. It is a good idea to check them over, repair and clean before the rain season starts to avoid excess water surrounding your home.

8. Trim

Outdoor trims and moldings can need some tightening or fixing up. Check around the home to see if any trim has rotted or has loosened from the structure. Use the proper tools to tighten them back up and caulk where needed. Again, we do not want loose areas for water and bugs to get into your home.

Now that we have completed the Exterior check, we can move on to the Interior of the home.

The Interior of the Home has many areas that can become at risk if no one inspects it. This lack of inspection can leave your home vulnerable to weather, water damage, or critters, just to name a few. A simple Scan of the areas and list to fix or schedule to be fixed can save you a lot of major headaches down the road. Let's take a look at our Interior of the Home Checklist.

Interior of the Home Checklist

9. Leaks

Check for leaks by scanning the most likely areas to see leaks such as Faucets, Sinks (and under sinks), Pipes, large Appliances, Windows, Doors, Ceilings, Attics, and Basements. If you see signs of water damage, dry discolored spots, water pooling, etc., it is best to address the issue right away to avoid more damage. Leaks are no laughing matter.

10. AC Units

Since they do not tend to get used year-round, inspecting them prior to their high use seasons are ideal times to check on them. There are many things you can do, inspect, turn them on, clean the unit, replace any filters (follow the recommendations in the manual, each unit is different) if everything works ok you should be good to go for another season. If not you may need the unit recharged. There are heating and cooling companies that specialize in these units.

11. Attic

Check your attic for leaks, debris, critters, damage. You don't go up there every day so take the time to really look around at least once a year.

12. Basement

Check around the walls, doors windows, for signs of water damage, cracks, or shifting (this will often lead to cracks). Check around for signs of critters that may have gotten in and inspect where the water/critters may have gotten in. Repair as soon as possible.

13. Extra Cleaning

They call it Spring Cleaning for a reason! This is a great time to do the stuff you don't normally do to get ready for the open windows and sunshine. I often think of things like washing baseboards, trim, blinds, drapes, walls, ceilings. Cleaning the railings, cupboards, drawers, fridge, freezer, and other items that get ignored for most of the year.

14. Safety Devices

This is a great time of year to check on all of your home safety devices, see that they are in good working order, and change the batteries if batteries are required. Smoke Alarms, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, and Fire Extinguishers, all need regular checkups and some detectors need fresh batteries.

15. Furnace (check and change filter)

Spring is a good time to check and change the filter in your furnace. Some furnaces have a maintenance schedule, some companies include checkups in their purchases. Check your furnace contract if you have one, if you don't have one it would be worth your time to call the furnace company and see what best practices are for your furnace and what is or is not included with your furnace.

16. Caulking

Bathrooms and Kitchens need caulking around tile, tubs, showers, sinks, and counter surfaces. Over time and use the caulking breaks down and needs to be redone. recaulking regularly will save your surfaces from rot or leaks.

17. Exhaust Fans

Bathroom and Kitchen exhaust fans, get full of dust, grease, and other debris. It is best to check and clean your exhaust fans so the motor is free to work without all the extra weight and stress of dust and other build-ups.

18. Back of Fridge and Dryer

The back of your fridge has a large coil that attracts dust. The back of your dryer has a huge hose that can hold dryer lint and dust. Cleaning and vacuuming these areas at least once a year will benefit the life of these appliances. Plus lower the incidence of fire.

19. Critter check  

Check for signs of termites, mice, or other vermin by looking around corners, warm damp low traffic areas like cupboards, under appliances, attics, and basements as mentioned above. You will see signs like chewed drywall, droppings, insulation pieces from the walls, etc. If you suspect a critter problem it is best to try and get a pro to handle things so they don't affect your wiring and safety.

We are feeling so great!

☑️The Exterior is all checked and doing well.

☑️The Interior is all checked and doing well.

Now it is time we address the Yard and all of the Surrounding Structures.

Quite often, we forget to check the things and areas around the home that need regular attention. Let's take a look at the things that you may have around your yard that would also benefit from a Spring checkup!

Yard and Surrounding Structures Checklist

20. Decks and Patios

When examining your decks and patios check for holes, weak spots, missing boards. Inspect your railings for movement. Address the needs of the structure first. Once the structure is sound, you can treat the wood with sealers or paint to keep them safe and beautiful for the seasons to come.  

21. Fences and Gates

Treat and seal, or paint your wooden fences and gates to freshen them up for the beautiful Spring and Summer seasons. Check for loose boards, missing slats, or damaged parts. Also, check on hardware such as hinges and latches to be sure they work with ease and do not have any rot, rust, or breakage. Oil hinges if needed.

22. Lawn Furniture

This is a great time to inspect lawn furniture for rot, exposure, and other damage. It is a good time to treat, paint, and repair your furniture before the season starts requiring you to use your furniture regularly.

23. Lawn care

Over the season's foliage can be moved around and branches can be broken. It is best to trim bushes and trees away from the home and powerlines to avoid danger. If the area you would like to trim is hard to access, get professional help, do not risk your safety.

24. Lawn Power Equipment

Any lawn equipment such as mowers, blowers, whipper snippers, and hedge trimmers, need to be inspected for rust, ceased up motors, wire health, and proper amounts of oil/gas, or whatever other lubricants they are meant to have for their health. Checking before starting these machines could save you from blowing the motor and the cost of replacing the machine completely.

25. Grills and BBQ's

Inspect your grills for rust, rot, critters, or holes before you fire up the BBQ! Also, check your tank and hoses to ensure they are in good working order before you turn them on.

26. Driveways and Pathways

Weather can cause things to shift, crack, lift, or fall. Keep your walkways and driveways safe by inspecting and fixing any areas that have shifted to keep the people that use these areas safe.

27. Sprinklers/Irrigations Systems/Hoses

Damage can happen due to weather and expanding and contracting. Checking to see that the pressure is good and all water is flowing freely is a good place to start. Hoses can rot and become unusable.

28. Septic Tanks

Yearly inspections of your septic tank will ensure the safety of your water and systems.

29. Stagnant Water

Remove or Treat all stagnant water to reduce mosquito breeding ground. Empty and refill birdbaths, lawn decor that holds water, manmade ponds, etc. Anywhere water is sitting for a long time.

30. Dips in Yard

Use compacted soil to fill in any dips in the yard. You can find the dips by walking around after rain and seeing if the water is pooling anywhere, especially close to the foundation, that area is especially important to protect from leaks. This practice will help to avoid water build-up that could create leaks and mosquito breeding grounds.

31. Firewood Piles

Move Firewood away from the home and up at least 18 inches off of the ground, this will prevent the wood from rotting and also prevent the wood from becoming infested with insects. Keeping it away from the home will prevent the critters and insects from being drawn closer to your home than necessary.

Do you see anything you feel we missed?

Do you see anything you feel we didn't need to include?

If you see anything you would like us to review, please reach out and tell us!

At Easy Does It Tile we are always learning and trying to do better.

Also, if you think of anything you would like us to write about, tell us!

We love hearing from you!

Have a safe and happy Spring!

- EDIT Team