4 Simple Spring Tasks to Get Your Home Ready for Summer

One of my favorite days of the year is that first day the weather feels “normal” after a long, cold winter. I know you know the day I’m talking about. The temperature reaches 45 degrees and all of a sudden, everyone comes out of hibernation to enjoy a walk with their family, cars driving by have their windows down and the radio up, and everyone is just in a happy mood! 

Now that it feels a bit more like spring, it is the perfect time to check on your home from the outside. The next time you need an excuse to spend some time in the sunshine, refer back to this list for a few simple tasks that will pay off immensely.

1. Clean Out Your Garage

Garages are intended to be places where you store your vehicles and organize your belongings. A cluttered garage, however, can lead to serious problems. Your garage will be full of objects that will make you trip over them. You won't be able to find important things when you need them. The good news is that there are many benefits to cleaning out your garage. Having a clean garage will reduce your chances of having unwanted pests. There will be more pests in your garage if you have more chaotic, messy piles of junk. Additionally, you will be able to have more space in your garage if you clean it out. Think about all the options if only you had a cleaner garage. Some homeowners even get creative with their garages in the summer, turning them into a home gym, playroom, or workshop. Having a clean garage provides you with so much freedom.

2. Clean Your Gutters

Rain gutters protect your home’s landscaping and siding from severe runoff while also preventing damage to your home’s foundation. But when gutters fill with leaves, sticks, and other debris it can cause clogs that result in water creeping under the roof and eventually into the foundation. Winter can cause a lot of build-up, so cleaning them is crucial. Clogged gutters can also lead to ice dams in the winter. That’s why it’s important to be cleaning out your gutters, spring AND fall. Grab a ladder and do a quick sweep of any sticks, excess leaves, and debris that the winter may have delivered. 

Gutters are hard to prioritize, but avoiding cleaning them can lead to water damage, a leaky roof, a cracked foundation, and a cozy home for pests. It is in your best interest to preventatively care for your home by simply cleaning out your gutters.

3. Check on Your Trees

Before your trees start to leaf out, you should inspect them. When branches are leafless, it is much easier to spot problems.

You should inspect your trees for broken branches, possibly bent or cracked from snow and ice, and also check the overall tree structure. There are some trees, especially young or weak ones, that can't withstand winter winds or debris accumulation. A tree that has suffered serious injuries may become a safety hazard due to environmental stressors or pest infestations. Branches could fall during another storm or high winds. If you have weak branches or dead, high-risk trees, you should remove them with the help of a certified arborist.

4. Inspect Your Roof

Take a few steps back and inspect your roof. The purpose of this simple inspection is to prevent any roof leaks that can cause major damage and be extremely costly to mitigate down the road. 

The first place you want to look is the flashing. The flashing is the part of your roof that is most likely to cause a leak because these are the seams of your roof where two rooflines meet, or where a chimney is located. You’ll want to look for any cracked caulk or rust spots here and if you see something concerning, schedule an official inspection by a professional.

While you check the flashing, you’ll want to take a look at the rubber boots around any vent pipes that stick out of your roof. If they look worn or cracked, it is worth it to grab a ladder to take a closer look.

Thirdly, if you have a shingled roof, you’ll want to look for any shingles that may look damaged. You’ll want to look for bucking, curled edges, or any bumps on the shingles (called blistering) as well as for any missing or broken shingles.

As you finish your roof inspection, check your chimney cap to make sure it isn’t damaged.