Essential Spring Outdoor Home Maintenance

Once spring finally arrives—and sticks around—in Northeast Ohio, many of us will be spending much more time outdoors, cleaning out flower beds, picking up sticks and other debris that was buried under the snow, and starting gardens and other outdoor projects. This is also an important time of year to handle some basic exterior home maintenance tasks, as well as inspect your home for any signs of damage. Doing so early in the spring can help you identify a potential problem before it becomes a major issue.

Clean out your gutters. This is one of the most common household chores, but also one of the most important. When your gutters become full of debris and mud, they cannot perform their basic function of directing water away from your home. If gutters are not regularly cleaned out, they won't work properly—entirely defeating their purpose. Remember that your safety should come first. If you do not feel comfortable navigating a ladder and the equipment necessary to clean your gutters, ask a family member or neighbor for help or consider hiring a professional gutter cleaning company.

Inspect your gutters. Look for visible signs of wear and tear, cracks, and holes in your gutters and downspouts, as these can all indicate structural damage. Make a note of these signs, then call a local roofing contractor to do a more thorough inspection. They will be able to tell you whether any issues are fixable or if it is time to consider replacing your gutters.

Clean and inspect siding. Once the snow and ice have melted and you can clearly see your home's siding, give it a rinse to remove any loose dirt. Then walk the perimeter of your home to inspect the siding. Are there any missing pieces? Has paint chipped away from the surface? Are there areas of rot? These are all important issues to note and address with a siding professional.

Inspect and repair your roof. You don't have to navigate a ladder and walk your roofline in order to inspect your roof. Sometimes, the most visible signs of damage are evident in loose, discarded roofing shingles that you find laying in your yard after winter. In your home, look up at the ceiling to observe any areas that are stained from leaks, as well as look for potential holes around skylights where water is seeping in. If you are not sure whether something is or isn't a problem that should be repaired, get the opinion of a professional roofer.

Good luck with your spring cleaning and maintenance. Be sure to call RJK Construction for any gutters, siding, or roof repair needs in Northeast Ohio this spring.