How to Prepare Your Home’s Exterior for Spring
Spring is a fantastic time of year when plant life makes its way out, and homes are able to finally undergo changes their owners have spent an entire winter thinking about. If you’re ready for spring and aren’t sure about what changes are necessary, you’re not alone.
These are the most important things to complete in the spring to get your home up to speed for the new season.
Update Your Mailbox
Although this may feel like a minor change: our mail is a large part of our lives, from receiving letters from loved ones to getting bills, checks, and items we’ve ordered online, it all adds up to us having to be sure we can protect it when it arrives.
Updating it might be as small as a replacement mailbox door, or you can take it further and update the entire area around your mailbox. This might mean placing a cement paver under it and setting up some potted plants to make the area welcoming and lovely.
What Is the Condition of Your Roof?
Look at the condition of your roof, and decide if it can handle another year’s worth of change. The weather has been getting far more unpredictable recently, which means that leaving your roof untouched for an extra year could lead to major damage nobody wants to deal with.
Look into updating this portion of your home and going with a material like slate that will last well over fifty years so that you don’t have to think about it again for some time.
Get Creative With Your Porch
We all want more spaces where we can gather with friends and loved ones. One of the most important spaces for this can be your porch. Not only does it give you the chance to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, but it also ensures that you can spend time away from screens just enjoying each other’s company.
Update your porch with fresh paint, applying sealant to keep moisture out, and new furniture that will make lounging a fun and enjoyable activity.
Consider when Your Siding Was Last Replaced
Your siding is another important part of your home’s exterior that should be taken into consideration in the spring. If it’s older and needs to be replaced, it’s time to go ahead and do that before the heat sinks in. Replacing your siding allows you to add more insulation to your home and give your entire property a new face with a popular option such as fiber cement board and batten siding.
If your siding is still pretty new, consider renting a power washer and rinsing down the sides of your home after the pollen has stopped. A power washer will get rid of all of the dirt, grime, and pollen that builds up through the year and will allow your siding to look brand new as you move into the summer.
Look Into Repairing Cracks and Stains
Cracks and stains in cement can quickly age property and make it look out of repair. Instead of allowing this to happen to your home, take the time to look into patching concrete and consider putting down pavers for a sidewalk instead of one long strip of cement.
Not only do these add visual benefits to the exterior of your home, but they also ensure that it lasts longer and is safer to walk or drive across for anyone who visits your property.
Protect Your Home’s Exterior
Your home’s exterior needs to be protected and there are some steps that everyone can take to ensure that.
Add gutters to your property to keep rain and any straggling snow away from your home when it melts. This will protect your property from flooding and will give you a chance to avoid any damage to your soil or plant life.
You should also consider installing exterior lights since they will allow you to better enjoy your home’s exterior and add some additional lighting to show off your home’s gorgeous exterior.
Does Your Garage Need an Update?
When’s the last time you updated your garage door? Did you know that updating your garage door has one of the largest returns on investment of any home update? It only costs around three thousand dollars and helps give your property a fresh face, especially if it’s facing the street.
Your Home’s Exterior Needs Attention Too!
Although most home makeover and remodel shows and sites focus on the interior of a property: the exterior needs to be carefully maintained as well! Take the time to update and change anything you need, and ensure it’s ready for the seasons’ changes.
Brian Jeffries is the content director for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
