Proactive maintenance identifies emergent issues before they proliferate. It informs homeowners on next steps for protecting their (likely) most precious investment. Keep reading as we explore the crucial link between home maintenance and long-term structural health. 

Roof Inspections

Out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, the rule of the day when it comes to most roofs. Homeowners don’t do anything until they notice a leak. At that point, it’s already too late. Stay ahead of unexpected roof breakdown with regular inspections. Ideally, once a year. Every two years at the most. 

A professional set of eyes will analyze beyond the shingles. They will assess the condition of the substrate and flashing. If they see an issue, they can recommend a preferred course of action. They will also provide top-notch documentation for insurance and appraisal purposes.

Gutter Cleaning

Hand-in-hand with roof inspection goes gutter cleaning. 

Precipitation from the roof should enter the gutters and flow away from the home. When there is a clog, there are a couple of things that could happen:

1. Water overflowing at the clog will pool directly at the base of the house. This constant moisture saturation will lead to hydrostatic pressure. This pressure can cause the foundation to crack.
2. Instead of overflowing, the water may back up at the clog. Roof deck. Eaves. Fascia board. All are at risk when this backflow occurs. 

Moisture Control

Water, it’s a building block of life. However, when left unchecked, it can wreak untold havoc. Especially on the bones of the home. We’ve already touched the roof and gutters. These are obviously two major areas susceptible to moisture damage. They’re just the tip of the iceberg.

Take the windows. Over time, small cracks begin to form in the window-to-wall transitions. This is a natural point of weakness for moisture ingress. Use a silicone-based sealant to shore up these cracks. 

Plumbing and HVAC are also common victims of moisture-related issues. Stay ahead of small leaks. Call for professional inspection and service as necessary, especially for HVAC ducts. 

Siding Care

Outside of the roof, no component of the home’s building envelope gets tested by Mother Nature quite like the siding. The cladding will face threats from precipitation, pests, winds, and solar rays. When any of these forces break through, the siding can no longer do its job as a first line of defense.

Proper siding care will vary based on material type. Wood siding should be painted roughly every 5 years to enhance its moisture resistance. Similarly, brick cladding needs to be sealed along the same timeline to remain nonporous. More durable composites, such as fiber cement and steel log, need to be gently washed every 18 months or so to knock away standing debris for ongoing performance. 

Savvy Material Selections for Long-Term Structural Health

No matter how well you maintain your home, there will come times when replacements are needed. For example, poorly maintained cedar shingle roofing will require full replacement in as little as 20 years. Well-maintained cedar (debris cleaning, preservative treatments) can last up to 40. Therefore, if you reach the point where replacement is necessary, here are some innovative options well-suited to retrofitting:

• Composite roofing shingles – Lightweight. Easy to work with. The highest rating for fire and impact. Should last over 50 years with minimal maintenance requirements.
• Hurricane-grade storm windows – Reinforced glass panes set in steel frames. Can withstand winds up to 250 MPH. A premier option for withstanding extreme weather events.
• Fiber cement siding – Inorganic for elite pest, fire, and moisture protection. Diverse aesthetics that do not need to be painted for ongoing curb appeal.

By choosing any of these low-maintenance options, homeowners can ensure long-term structural health while limiting ongoing upkeep. 

Seasonal Tips for Home Maintenance

There is never a bad time to invest TLC into your home. However, the seasons often provide a general framework with which to plan maintenance activities.

Spring – This is the season to refresh. Clean the gutters. Have the roof inspected. Check around the house for signs of water damage wrought by standing snow. Make sure the A/C is in good condition for the warming temperatures. 

Summer – Turn your attention to the exterior. Clean and stain decks and fences. Check the foundation for signs of cracks. Clean the dryer vent to mitigate the risk of fires. Assess the condition of the garage door.

Fall – Get a leg up on winter. Circle back to the gutters, which are a repository for the falling leaves of autumn. Inspect the condition of your heating system. Make sure the insulation is airtight, paying special attention to the caulk and weatherstripping around windows and doors. 

Winter – Focus on interior maintenance. Test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Clean appliances and check the range hood filter. Monitor the pipes for signs of freezing. 

Stay One Step Ahead of Structural Issues with Proactive Home Maintenance

Home maintenance is more than busywork for retirees with too much time on their hands. It’s a crucial component for protecting the home’s long-term structural health. Use the best practices listed above and consider any of the savvy material choices to guarantee that the integrity of your home is never compromised. For more of the latest trends in home and renovation, explore the content at Better Housekeeper for ideas and inspiration!

After a long winter—whether it’s been full of snow and cold or just dreary enough to keep you inside of several months—it’s time to get back outside. Spring is blooming, and while your head is full of thoughts of adventure outside, this is also a good time of year to focus on the exterior of your home and check for damages. While you’ve been relaxing inside all winter trying to dodge the frigid temps and falling snowflakes, your roof, windows, siding, and gutters have been working hard to keep you cozy and comfortable. As the temperatures rise and you spend more time outside, here are five spring maintenance tips for the exterior of your home.

1.  Check the Condition of Wooden Surfaces

Winter weather can take a toll on your home’s exterior, and this is particularly true of aging wooden siding. Walk around the exterior of your home and poke suspicious sections of wood siding with a screwdriver to see how the wood is holding up. Soft wood should be replaced with fresh sections of siding to ensure that your home doesn’t suffer worse damage. Another good place to check is wood trim around windows, doors, and fascia boards.

The latter is particularly important to the health and function of your gutters. Freezing temperatures in the winter months add weight to your gutters as snow and water freeze into ice that sits in the gutters. This can put added strain on the wood fascia boards that gutters are attached to. If those fascia boards are aging, they could result in gutter failure if the board gives out and your gutters fall off.

2.  Examine Roofing Shingles

Within reason, go onto your roof to inspect the condition of your shingles. We do not advise climbing around on your entire roof and suggest staying away from high-incline sections of your roof. With that said, a visual inspection from a distance can help you determine if your roofing shingles are in good condition or are starting to shed material with age. Shingles that shed debris present a two-fold problem. First, your roofing materials aren’t as resistant to impact and leaks. Second, the debris that shingles shed can wind up in your gutters and result in clogs that cause water to pile up on your roof or fall over the shingles too close to the foundation of your home.

3.  Check Around the Foundation

Speaking of your home’s foundation, don’t forget to walk around the interior and exterior of your foundation to check for issues. Inside, you’ll want to look for damp spots, leaks, cracks, and bulges in the wall. Foundation repair is never cheap, but catching a minor problem before it becomes a major issue can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs. As you walk around the outside of your home’s foundation, look for spots where the ground is uneven or sinking. This could be a sign that water is piling up near those spots on your foundation, which can cause interior damage as well. Water collection and lower spots in the soil are often a sign that something is wrong with your gutters and/or downspouts. Water is not being efficiently moved away from your home’s foundation and needs to be addressed.

4.  Landscape Near Your Home

Add curb appeal to your front yard by choosing a mailbox that will complement your yard. Here are some ideas to help get you started. While you’re out there walking around the foundation of your home, take note of the condition of any landscaping around your home. The plants and mulch that you use around your home can help aid the removal of water from your home’s foundation. If necessary, plant new shrubs and bushes that will soak up some of the excess water. Avoid concrete patios or paver bricks too close to the foundation without proper grading. Water won’t move through those as efficiently as soil and mulch, allowing it to collect too close to the foundation. With any work you do around the foundation, make sure that fresh soil or new patios are properly graded to assist in the removal of water pouring through downspouts and away from the home.

5.  Examine the Condition of Gutters and Downspouts

Last, but certainly not least, get out a ladder and examine the condition of your gutters. Winter can be rough on your gutters. As mentioned above, snow and ice can build up in your gutters. This can warp the shape, pull on the fascia boards holding the gutters to your home, and otherwise result in clogs. As the snow melts and April showers soak the ground, you want to know that those gutters are free of winter debris so that water moves freely and quickly away from your house. Don’t forget to check all of your downspouts for obstructions as well. You may need to adjust the direction of your downspouts if they’ve shifted during snowfalls and snowmelts, or with changes in the ground level around them.

Your gutters are your first line of defense against water damage. Clean, secure gutters quickly collect water and efficiently move it to downspouts. Clear downspouts aimed in the right direction downgraded landscaping ensures that water doesn’t collect too close to your home’s foundation. If you’ve found that a lot of debris collects in your gutters during the winter months, it may be time to consider a clog-free solution such as gutter guards.