Spring is here and your Fraser Valley home has been taking a beating for the past 6 months. Here are 5 essential home maintenance tips to help your home recover from a rough British Columbia winter.
Check the Gutters
Even from the ground level, you can take a look at your gutters’ overall condition. Things to look for are leaks, broken downspouts, and proper downspout trajectory. Rain should always be taken away from your home’s structure, not towards it!
Inspect the Concrete
Take a walk around your yard and look for signs of cracking, movement, and algae build-up. All exterior slabs except for pool decks should drain away from the home’s foundation to avoid costly damage. Fill cracks with a crack filler, power wash the concrete to remove slippery algae and seal the concrete.
Check Power Equipment
Check your gas and battery-powered maintenance equipment to make sure it is ready for summer use. This is more for convenience but staying on top of this will make it much easier to keep your home maintenance under control.
Examine Roof Shingles
Whether you feel comfortable doing it, or get a professional to do it, it is important to examine the state of your roofing material in spring. Summer can also be damaging to roofing with intense heat so not maintaining this can result in leaks when it starts to rain again. Also check flashing around vents, skylights and chimneys and repair if needed.
The last Home Maintenance Tip..Move Firewood
Remove firewood stored near your home. Firewood should be stored at least 18 inches off the ground and at least 2 feet from your home’s structure. Firewood stacks will inevitably attract critters and moisture so it is best keeping these away from your house.