What if you could save time and money and have your home look incredible all at the same time? By maintaining your exterior home in a consistent and intelligent way, you can. It all starts with this checklist of exterior house maintenance to keep you from needing major repairs later.
Start using this monthly checklist to help you get a handle on what needs to be done around your home. With these tips, you’ll improve curb appeal, save money, and live in a healthy environment.
Inspect the Roof
Monthly exterior home maintenance should include checking the roof for any damage. Look for missing or cracked shingles. Examine flashings around skylines, chimneys, and vents, and check for any water leakage.
Remove any debris from your roof and check for signs of mold or rotting. Make sure all gutters and downspouts are free of debris and secure from sagging or detachment. If you have trees nearby, trim back any branches that hang close to the roof, as they can cause a lot of damage in windy weather. After your monthly inspection, take necessary action to repair and replace damaged items promptly.
Clean the Windows
Cleaning the windows is one of the most important components of a monthly exterior home maintenance checklist. Especially if you have some windows that face the sun, it’s important to clean them once a month to keep them looking their best and blocking UV light.
To clean them, you’ll need a mild soap and water solution, a squeegee, a soft rag, and a glass cleaner. After you’ve mixed your soap and water, start at the top of the window. Using your squeegee, make gentle swiping motions from left to right and repeat until the window is clean. Rinse with your glass cleaner and soft rag to ensure any remaining residue is gone.
If you aim to save time and ensure the cleanliness of your windows, it would be wise to consider hiring a professional window cleaner.
Check Exterior Paints
Check for fading, cracking, chipping, and peeling of the paint from the outer walls, windows, doors, porches, shutters, fences, railings, shutters, siding, and any other areas that have been painted.
Look out for signs of water damage, mildew, or mold growth on the painted surfaces. If you notice any of these, take necessary measures immediately to prevent further damage from occurring.
Prune Shrubs
Pruning shrubs is an important step in exterior home maintenance that should not be overlooked. Trimming away large or unruly growth leaves your landscaping work looking clean and neat and keeps them in top condition. Pruning should be done at least once a month to keep the shrubs healthy and flourishing.
Before beginning, decide what needs to be cut or thinned. Start by snipping back branches that are overcrowding the others. Once you are done removing excess growth, trim any stems that are excessively long. Finally, shape by cutting back the sides of shrubs to give them definition.
Follow This Monthly Checklist for Exterior Home Maintenance
Performing regular maintenance checks on the exterior of your home is a great way to keep it safe and secure. Don’t forget to check all the details of your home every month for any repairs or upkeep needed!
Get started with your monthly checklist today and enjoy a beautiful, well-maintained home for years to come.
For more informative topics, check out the rest of our site!
