Ahh…hello sunshine! It’s nice to see you and the warmer days you bring again. Winter is coming to an end and with it, dark and frosty days are nearly behind us. Can you feel the lure of the outdoors drawing you? Exterior home improvement season is upon us, and there is no time like the spring for repairing winter’s damage and improving the aesthetic of your home with these seasonal projects. Long sunny days are coming soon, and you’ll want to take full advantage of enjoying them. HomeWise Roofing and Exteriors would like to share our springtime projects checklist with you, and we’re on standby, ready and able to help you with yours.
Replace Siding for Lasting Exterior Home Improvement
As you will no doubt notice from this list, the elements: sun, wind, and water, have a tremendous impact on the durability of your home’s exterior features. In an ideal situation, your home’s siding can last thirty years or longer, but if it is exposed constantly to sunlight and harsh extreme temperatures (such as those we experienced this summer), you may find your siding needs replacing after only twenty. That means if your house was built in the mid-90s to the first decade of the 2000s, we’re talking to you. Among our home improvement services, we inspect, repair, and replace siding with durable products in a variety of appealing colors.
Update Your Windows
The US Department of Energy estimates that nearly one-third of your home’s heat is lost through the windows in the winter, and three-fourths of the sunlight penetrating those windows brings that heat you’re trying to fight right indoors all summer long. This results in significant costs as your HVAC tries to regulate your home’s climate.
For smaller window problems, caulk around those tiny gaps in the window frame…you know, those ones that resulted in cool, drafty living spaces all winter. Replace worn and damaged weather stripping. If an outer pane was cracked or damaged over the winter, now is the time to repair it. All of the benefits of insulation are lost if the seal is broken.
If your windows are old and poorly insulated, now is the time to replace them with energy-efficient alternatives. The most effective windows have three panes of glass with a small space between each pane. The spaces are filled with argon or krypton, which provide transparent insulation, keeping the summer heat or the winter chill at bay. Many other factors, such as the U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient, contribute to the energy efficiency of your windows and should be taken into consideration when choosing the best ones for your exterior home improvement.
Window treatment upgrades, such as shutters and awnings can help block some of the heat and harsh light from penetrating your home. Additionally, improving your landscaping with strategically placed trees will offer similar protection and add natural beauty to your property.
Clean up the Roof and Gutters
Your rain gutters may have filled completely with leaves, twigs, and debris over the winter months. Take the time to clean them out thoroughly and do a visual inspection. If any parts are pulling away from the house’s exterior, appear bent, damaged, or cracked, it may be time to replace them.
Anywhere your roof forms angles can be debris-collecting culprits, particularly around chimneys and around dormer windows. Over time, water can back up and seep through even the most minuscule holes or damaged shingles in your roof, leaving you with slowly spreading water damage that costs a small fortune to repair.
Roofing and gutter replacement are among our specialties at HomeWise Roofing and Exteriors. We’d be glad to take a look at yours and provide you with an honest assessment of your needs.
Assess your Irrigation Needs
If you already have a sprinkler system in place, you’re not far from achieving a lush and verdant lawn. Like everything else, wear and tear (from the lawnmower), and the elements can damage sprinkler heads and growing tree roots can cause problems for the pipes. Check to see that all the elements of your system are in good working order and schedule maintenance as needed.
If you don’t have a sprinkler system, consider the amount of time and work that you invested last year to keep your lawn healthy. Were you hand-watering your flowers and shrubs with a hose or moving a sprinkler and hose around the yard to cover every zone? If so, exploring sprinkler systems may be well worth the initial investment.
Inspect and Repair Outdoor Lighting
Chances are, you weren’t outside very much at night during the winter months, but warmer weather means much more time outdoors. Make sure that your walkways, stairways, house, driveway, and outdoor entertainment spaces are all well-lit, and that those lights are in excellent working order. Then you’ll be ready for those cookouts, family reunions, and all of the outdoor summer fun.
Update Paints and Stains
Even high-quality paints and stains take a beating by the elements, and over the years, they can chip, bubble, and fade, leaving your house more vulnerable to weather damage and diminishing its appearance. To achieve the best results, make sure you’ve given temperatures time to warm up sufficiently. 50°F or higher is an ideal temperature. Try to avoid painting when temperatures are likely to fall below freezing (even overnight).
Tune Up the AC
The days of open windows and fresh breezes come to an end too quickly, and you’ll want to make sure your air conditioner is in peak working order. Schedule a service call and maintenance checkup early to avoid the rush that comes with summer repairs.
Enough to Stay Busy All Season Long
Trying to tackle all of these projects on your own can quickly become overwhelming. If you find yourself, like most of us, pressed for time, let HomeWise Roofing and Exteriors take on some of your spring exterior home improvement projects. With outstanding work and a friendly, customer service-oriented staff, you’ll have peace of mind…and the time to perfect your skills on the barbecue! Give us a call today to schedule your consultation.
