04/26/2019
Spring Maintenance – What should I do first?
It’s almost May and winter is finally over.
Before you start the fun stuff of planting the garden and pulling out the Cub Cadet for the first mow of the spring, take a look around the house. Odds are, it sustained some wear-and-tear during the winter (just like you). If you fix it now, it will cost a whole lot less than fixing it later (just like you). Just take a walk around the house and perform a cursory inspection. Pay particular attention to the roof, the chimney and the landscaping. Mentally triage your tasks as you go, dividing the list into what needs to be done immediately and what can wait. Also divide the list into things that you can do yourself and things for which you’ll require an expert.
As much as Three Rivers Repair would love to get in and perform all these jobs for you, we are more concerned about your family and the investment in your house. Spending a few dollars and a few hours now can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars down the road. Just be sure to be careful if doing some of these tasks on your own.
(Hint – anything involving electricity or, you know, the possibility of death, should probably be farmed out to an expert.)
Here are some specific things to look for:
Roof: Check for damaged or missing shingles or nails that are visible above the shingles. Yup, those will all have to be replaced.
Gutters: Clean them out but be careful. It’s difficult to anticipate what may have taken refuge from the cold in the gutters.
Air Conditioner: Unwrap the air conditioner (fold the tarp into a nice square and put the bungee cord on a hook in the garage where you can find it when you need it) rake the leaves, branches and other yard debris that blew up against it during the winter. This allows a free flow of air. When your air conditioner isn’t struggling, it’s at its most efficient – just like you.
Chimneys: How is the structural integrity? Are there bricks or stones missing? If vegetation has grown between the bricks, you should not look at it and think, “Wow, that ivy makes it look like a charming English cottage.” You should be researching the most effective way to destroy it. And the whitish spots on the chimney? These are calcium deposits and another sign that the chimney is no longer water-repellant.
Windows: Do the windows open properly? Do they lock completely? Are the caulking and weather stripping intact? Here’s a tip: If you can feel air on your hand when the window is closed, it’s not sealed properly. Just picture dollar bills flying out with the breeze.
Foundation: Check for cracks in the masonry from the annual freeze/thaw cycle. As much fun as it is to get out the caulk gun and spend the afternoon filling the cracks, don’t do it. Not on the foundation. Contractors have access to professional-grade caulk. What you can buy at the big box store simply won’t do the job.
Exterior Walls: Check under the eaves and roof line for water damage. If you didn’t clean your gutters properly last fall, leaves, bird and insect habitats and animal “debris” are lodged firmly in your gutters, preventing proper run-off, which is a gutter’s entire job. If you have siding, look for damaged areas, indicating that “critters” (insects, birds, animals and reptiles) are enjoying the central heating at your expense and are not terribly willing to leave of their own accord.
