Spring is in the air. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the sun is thawing our lawns and homes from the winter frost. This is a beautiful time of the year, but it also brings requirements for homeowners as they prepare for the warmer months ahead. Tasks like lubricating your doors and windows, freshening up your exterior and interior paint, checking and servicing your AC unit, and cleaning out your gutters need to be completed now that it’s warm enough to venture outside. While these tasks aren’t the most fun, they are essential to the upkeep of your home at this time of year. After all, it is called spring cleaning. So break out that ladder and some lubricating oil and make sure your home is in tip-top shape all spring and summer long.
Here are seven ways to prepare your home for Spring.
Lubricate Your Doors and Windows
During the colder months, we are usually snuggled up inside our homes. That means that our doors and windows aren’t opened as often, including your garage door. Frigid temperatures can still impact your doors and windows when they are closed, and the cold combined with a lack of opening can lead to sticking. Break out a can of lubricating oil and apply a small line along the hinges of your exterior entry doors, your windows, and your garage door. This will keep them from sticking and leave them ready for immediate use when the temperature spikes.
It’s also a good idea to lubricate your locks to make sure they turn as they should every time you slide your key in.
Clean Your Gutters
Most homeowners put their ladder away come early to mid-fall, and don’t inspect their gutters again until the spring. During that time, leaves and other natural debris can build up in your gutters, making them less effective at draining water from your roof. This is the time to get up on your roof and clean out anything that will cause a backup in your gutter. This is essential as the spring can bring long periods of rain.
Sometimes gutter blockages can occur within the drainage pipe instead of in the open gutter along the side of your roof. Pour some water through your gutters to make sure that they are fully clean, clear, and ready for the rain that comes in the spring and summer.
Check Your Roof
While you are up in the air cleaning out your gutters, give your roof a good once over. The harshness of winter can cause damage to your roof that is only found once the weather warms up and your roof has thawed out. When you inspect your roof look for signs of decaying roofing materials such as broken shingles, or even small holes. Call a roofing company for an estimate if you see any potential problems. A reputable roofing company will be able to get your roof back to prime condition, giving you peace of mind that you are safe from any leaks.
Freshen Up Your Paint
If you want to keep your house in top aesthetic condition, then this is the time of year to apply some fresh paint to the exterior and interior of your home. The painting process can be quite fun (at least we think so), from choosing your new colors and the feeling of the paint rolling across your walls. It also gives you a great feeling of accomplishment when you take a step back and see how your work has transformed your home. Painting is an enjoyable task to some homeowners, but less so to others. If you need a hand in freshening up your paint job, just give Pro Edge a shout. We’d be happy to help with all your painting needs.
Don’t forget to paint your exterior accents in your painting process. A new color on your front door, shutters, patio, or deck can really make your home pop and boost your curb appeal.
Spruce Up Your Exterior Wood
Do you have a wooden outdoor deck or patio? If so, you will want to add sprucing this space up to your spring cleaning to-do list. Sanding down and restaining areas that the weather has rubbed dry will leave the wood looking new and protected from the approaching sun and heat, and a good power washing can remove any grimy buildup.
Break Out the Lighter Fabrics
The cold winter months call for heavy blankets and curtains to keep you warm. Now that spring is here, it’s time to stow these heavy fabrics away and break out the lighter fabrics. Replace your flannel sheets with softer and more breather linen, and trade your thermal curtains for fabrics that let the sunshine through. These interior touches will really make it feel like spring.
Check and Service Your AC Unit
The arrival of spring means that summer is just around the corner. You don’t want to be caught in a heatwave without a properly working AC unit. Give yours a test to make sure it’s blowing cold air through all of your vents. This is also a great time to have your AC unit inspected by an HVAC company to make sure it will last through the spring and summer. Your AC unit may pass your test, but there could be a potential problem lurking that you don’t see until your AC stops working in the high heat of late spring and summer. It’s better to know that your AC unit is in full working order or to replace it now rather than later.
Enjoy Your Spring
Now that you have completed your spring cleaning, it’s time to relax outside in the sun. Prop yourself up on your favorite lawn chair or patio lounge, sip a lemonade and admire your hard work. Don’t forget to call Pro Edge Painting if that freshened-up paint job was left unscratched on your to-do list. We can advise you on the best color to meet your desired needs both inside and outside of your home.
