After hibernating in the house all winter as most of us do, it’s time to step outside and take stock of your home. With warmer weather and more outdoors time, there are a few easy projects to cross off your spring cleaning checklist so that your time can be spent relaxing and smelling the roses.
Start at the Top
You may be eager to get to your local nursery and start planting some spring flowers, but before starting any decorative project it is important to inspect your roof and gutter system to avoid any future (costly) damage. The winter season brings snowfall to many areas, which leads to many rounds of snow buildup and melting on your roof. This can cause leaks or general roof “sagging” where moisture from snow and rain can damage the roof structure. It is better safe than sorry when it comes to roof maintenance, so it may be beneficial to schedule a consultation with a professional to determine if your roof can withstand upcoming April showers. Here are some signs you can look for yourself that may need you need a replacement roof.
Another important system of the house to check up on is the gutter system. This is a task that is inexpensive, and easy enough to do yourself. Simply clearing your gutters of decomposing leaves and general muck can save you from gross potential effects such as mold, mildew, and even mosquito infestation.
Outdoor Appearance
Fertilizing your grass is the first step to recovery from the harsh winter season to make your lawn healthy again. Basic fertilizer only costs around $35 and can cover roughly 10,000 square feet. Basic maintenance such as trimming hedges and laying down new soil can make your lawn look fresh and new, and ready for any spring yard ideas you may have in mind.
While it can be tempting to grab any colorful flowers, you see at the garden center and start planting, try to draw up a basic plan first. Create a color scheme. Choose a few colors of flowers you plan to incorporate and continue that palette throughout your whole yard to make it look clean and organized. Choosing flowers that bloom early, or pre-planting them in pots first is a good way to get a head start on your spring garden. Fresh flowers always look better on fresh soil and be sure to maintain them throughout the season to keep them from wilting and browning.
Mulching in spring is one of the best times to mulch your yard in the Mid-Atlantic. Mulch helps to block the sunlight for those pesky weeds that like to pop up at spring’s first watch. Two to three inches of mulch is plenty when spreading it out in the beds. Try to hold off as late in spring as possible for mulching to give your ground time to thaw and dry out. Mulch laid on top of wet ground can delay the eruption of the plants underneath and can also create mold. Make sure you mulch around your trees and don’t pile up mulch around a tree’s trunk which can attract bugs and cause fungus to grow.
University of Maryland Extension has even more lawn care tips on aerating, fertilizing, liming, seeding and more.
Indoor Maintenance Tips
Spring time is prime time for lawn improvement projects, but there are a few easy indoor tasks that are essential to get out of the way early, so that you can focus your energy into fixing up your home’s exterior.
The first step is to replace your smoke detector batteries. There’s nothing worse than that shrieking beep that lets you know when the batteries are out, and it’s easy enough to do ahead of time. And it’s good to get into the habit of a yearly swap of batteries so you can feel confident your smoke detectors are in working order.
Comfortable spring temperatures will turn on you fast. Make sure your air conditioning is ready to go! Schedule a tune-up with a professional now so you aren’t on a wait list for repair later.
Check your outdoor faucet for any damage from winter’s freeze. You were good about bleeding your outdoor hose line and shutting down the water to your outdoor faucet in winter, but you need to be alert to any damage that might have happened over the winter. Turn on the water to the outside, and then head down to your basement to watch for water leaks that might have occurred over winter.
Check the seals around your windows and doors. If they’ve been worn down over the winter season, it may be time to reseal them. This will save you a significant amount in heating and cooling costs over time. Repairing this can be easy as buying a can of foam (usually around $6) and spraying easy-fix holes in the sealant. You may discover bigger issues with your doors and windows that over time has made them ill-fitting and difficult to close. Doors and windows that have been damaged by water or exposure to the elements may need to be replaced. A window and door expert can determine whether your ill-fitting window and doors can be repaired or if you need replacement doors and windows.
Spring is in the air and our Thompson Creek professionals are on call! We can help with your spring home improvement projects that will give you peace of mind. Call us today for a free estimate.