Protect your home from extreme weather costs.
Outdoor home maintenance protects your biggest investment from preventable damage caused by extreme weather each season. But how do you know where to start?
Here’s the truth…
It’s free to educate yourself on simple seasonal maintenance tasks that every homeowner should do. Take these steps to ensure your home exterior can hold strong during spring, summer, fall, and winter.
What you’ll learn:
- Seasonal Maintenance is Essential
- Spring Cleaning Checklist
- Prep Your Home Exterior For Summer/Fall
- Ready Your Home for Winter
Seasonal Maintenance is Essential
Did you know that roof repair and replacement cost Americans nearly $31 billion dollars in 2024?
That’s a 30% increase from just two years prior! And the biggest contributors? Wind and hail damage.
The problem with most homeowners is that they wait until something goes wrong to address the issue. By then, simple wear and tear turns into expensive-to-fix problems.
Instead, preventative maintenance and yearly inspections by a trusted roofing services company can ensure any damage is taken care of before it becomes severe. If you live in the Northeast, Albany roofing restoration specialists can perform annual inspections that cover your roof, gutters, siding, and more.
Another source shows that roofs considered to be in poor or moderate condition experience loss costs that are 60% greater than those of roofs that are well maintained.
Spring Cleaning Checklist
Winter is tough on your home exterior.
Between precipitation, ice/snow buildup, and dramatic temperature fluctuations, your home takes a beating. Spring is the perfect time to assess any winter damage and confirm your home can withstand summer storms.
Start at the top.
When inspecting your roof, look for these common signs of wear:
- Missing shingles
- Curling shingles
- Damaged flashing around vents, skylights, and chimneys
- Granules in your gutters (indicator shingles are starting to deteriorate)
- Any obvious sagging or soft spots
Clean out the gutters next.
I cannot stress enough how important clean gutters are to the longevity of your home exterior. Clogged gutters cause water to spill over and rot out fascia boards, siding, and even house foundations. Spring rains will really put your gutter system to the test. Clean them well.
Lastly, take a look at the siding.
Winter is also hard on siding materials. Whether you have vinyl, wood, or brick, look around your home and check for:
- Cracked vinyl
- Peeling paint
- Loose panels
Go around the entire home and pay special attention to areas where your house meets brick foundations or other surfaces.
Prep Your Home Exterior For Summer/Fall
Summer has heat, humidity, and storms.
The main goal during the summer months is to ensure your home can get through the fall and winter seasons with minimal damage.
Trim back any trees and bushes.
Yep, this costs money, but it’s something that needs to be done. Overgrown trees and bushes scratch siding, harbor rodents, clog gutters, and can damage roofing during storms. Make sure vegetation is trimmed back at least three feet from your home’s exterior surfaces.
Roof inspection.
Once again, take a moment to scan your roof for any defects. Summer storms can cause damage that might have been hidden during winter precipitation. A quick once-over after severe storms can prevent future headaches.
…and then fall happens.
Fall cleaning is the most important home maintenance of the year. Why? Because you are ensuring your home can make it through winter.
Gutters.
Empty your gutters of any leaves and debris. Fall is the time to ensure your gutters are ready to manage wet leaves and winter precipitation.
Roof.
Scan your roof for summer damage.
Siding.
Take a look at the siding and seal any cracks/gaps that might allow cold air to penetrate your home.
Don’t forget about downspouts!
Make sure they are clear and water is directed away from the home’s foundation.
Pro tip… wait until approximately 80% of the leaves have fallen off trees before you do your final fall gutter cleaning. If you do it too early, more debris will fall, and you’ll just waste your time.
Ready Your Home for Winter
Winter is hard on your home.
From ice dams to snow loads to freeze and thaw cycles, your home exterior takes abuse from November to March. Preparing your home in the fall is best, but here are some things to watch for during the winter months.
Ice dams.
Ice dams occur when snow melts on the warmer sections of your roof and then refreezes as it drains down and around the edge of your roof. Ice dams cause water to puddle up and seep under roofing shingles, leading to leaks and water damage.
Correct attic ventilation and insulation can prevent ice dams. If you do find your roof has an ice dam, you can carefully remove snow from your roof edge with a roof rake. Try not to chip away at the ice as this can damage roofing materials.
Snow.
Most roofs are only built to withstand 20-25 pounds of snow per square foot. When water collects in snow, it can quickly become too heavy. Don’t hesitate to call a professional snow removal service if you receive a heavy snowfall that exceeds 12 inches.
Gutters.
Gutters should have been cleaned in the fall, but if not, they need to be cleared before the first freeze. Ice inside gutter systems can cause damage to the brackets and even pull gutters away from the house.
Final Thoughts…
Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand that maintenance is the best defense against extreme weather. Don’t wait until Spring to start thinking about summer storms.
Damage incurred to your home during times of extreme weather will ALWAYS be more costly to repair. A small ounce of prevention goes a long way!
Summary
- Perform maintenance checks each season
- Spring is for cleaning up winter damage
- Summer time is for prepping for fall and winter storms
- Fall is THE most important season to maintain your home
- Winter requires monitoring for ice dams and heavy snow
Take a walk around your home and pay attention to your roof, gutters, and exterior walls. Learn how things work, and if anything looks out of place, give us a call. We can let you know if something needs repaired or wasn’t caused by poor maintenance.
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