After an early spring snow storm at the beginning of April, we’ve had a couple of beautiful weeks in our neck of the woods and I think it’s safe to say that spring is here. And if you’re like me, you’ve been itching to get outside to prepare your exterior space for warm weather fun.
To help get you started, here is a list of spring home maintenance tasks for the exterior of your home:
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Turn on outside water valves; reattach hoses
If you have an external water shut-off valve that you turned off in the fall, it’s time to switch it back on and re-attach your garden hoses.
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Powerwash deck, fencing and outdoor patio furniture
Every year I am surprised by how new my 10-year old composite deck looks after its power washed with just water on the general setting. If you have a wood deck, thespruce.com has a good tutorial here. Whatever material you have, start with the lowest setting with the nozzle further away from the surface to see what results you get and increase/get closer as needed.
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Check for cracks or peeling paint on home; sand and repaint
Preparation is key with this task. Any peeling or flaking paint needs to be removed and the surface prepped to receive the new paint. Check out Behr’s tutorial on prepping here.
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Repair & repaint / replace any exterior trim
Consider replacing wood trim with a low maintenance PVC option. You can purchase this at your local lumberyard or big box store.
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Service your lawn mower and other gas-powered tools
Get your lawnmower and other tools ready for their warm weather duties by filling up the gas and oil and starting them up to ensure they are working.
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Clean up your lawn
Rake lawn and flower beds to remove any debris that may have fallen over the winter including branches and leaves. Cut any broken limbs on trees or branches on shrubs. Prune trees, plants and shrubs as needed – Good Housekeeping has a good guide to what to prune when here.
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Fertilize your lawn
Scott’s offers a good primer on when to feed your lawn here.
Source: Andersen Windows
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Repair/replace damaged window screens
If the screen can be repaired, take it to your local hardware store – many of these offer screen repair services. If the screen needs to be replaced, check what brand of windows you have and find a local lumberyard that carries them. Bring in the screen and they can order you a new one.
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Wash windows and reinstall screens
This is something you can do yourself, especially if you have a one-story home or tilt-in windows. If not, you may want to call in a pro. For a few hundred dollars, you can have a clear view again!
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Treat home for ants or other pests
I’ve lived in Massachusetts for over 40 years and we have always had to treat for ants in the spring. There are many ways to do it – either yourself or with a pro. The key is to do it early to prevent infestation.
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Have air conditioner units serviced
Central air conditioning systems need to be serviced once a year just as heating systems do. This will ensure your house stays cool this summer and that your units will last longer. Our guys come out in the spring to clean the condensers and make sure everything is running smoothly.
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Check driveway pavement for cracks
Our New England weather can do a number on driveways over the years. If your driveway has developed a crack, there are a number of asphalt patch products on the market to fix it. Lowe’s has more information here.
Download a printable version of this list here. Get the full planner that includes an equipment checklist, seasonal interior and exterior tasks, home maintenance contact sheet and paint reference list, here.
Kristen
