An Incredibly Useful Outdoor Home Maintenance Checklist

Last Updated on January 31, 2018 by lydiaf1963

An Incredibly Useful Outdoor Home Maintenance Checklist for 2018

We often spend a lot of time improving the interior of our house. But, what about the exterior?
Interior tasks such as cleaning the appliances and cabinets, painting walls, changing the filters of the air conditioner, and cleaning kitchen sinks, are all easy to remember. However, it is essential that you don’t ignore to look after your home’s outdoor maintenance as well.

Today’s guest blogger, James, has created an outdoor home maintenance checklist to help you get started. From cleaning your front door to inspecting the foundation to fixing any possible cracks in concrete to cleaning gutters, these crucial outdoor maintenance tasks are essential to keep your house in a good condition year round.

Inspect and Clean the Front Door:

Perform a primary inspection of your front door before you clean it. Check out the hardware components such as screws, and make sure they are tight enough. You must inspect and clean the front door at least once in a year. You can use a soft cleaner to clear the dust and spots on the door. Any wood cleaner, diluted detergent or dish soap, or even a baby shampoo are some excellent elements to clean the door. Note: Avoid the use of abrasive accessories because that might leave behind a lot of scratches. Also, do not power wash or scour the front door.

Clean Outside Windows:

Over time, some harsh elements outside the house can damage the windows. Rust, minerals, pollution, and other factors can stick on to the glass and may cause damage and buildup. Cleaning outside windows will not just enhance the appearance of your home but also preserve the overall lifespan of the windows.

Trim Overgrowth:

The first task is to ensure that vegetation is not ruining the exterior of your house. You may need to check if tree branches are not dangling from your roof and affecting shingles.
Keep some space in between your home and vegetation, possibly, a foot or two.

Repair the Cracks in Concrete:

Concrete requires periodic maintenance as it may wear down or crack over time. You must keep a good watch on cracks and fix them as soon as you notice them. It is easier to repair small cracks. Don’t allow them to grow. You can use caulk or compound to patch the cracks.

Clean Gutters:

It is essential to clean gutters at least once in a year, especially in late fall. Debris such as seeds and leaves clog the gutters. It can lead to numerous problems such as infestations, insects, rot, mold, overflow, and sometimes flooding damage also.

Roof Inspection and Repair:

The roof is something that protects our house. You can notice the signs of faults and defects with a quick interior and exterior roof inspection. These defects might allow rot, moisture, even pests to enter the house.
In the initial inspection, you can look for flashing damage, sag, decay signs, rust spots, and missing, broken, or damaged shingles. Usually, you can fix these defects rather than entirely replacing the roof.

Foundation Inspection:

If your foundation has deterioration or cracks, that implies a serious issue. Identify these problems before they turn into a big concern. You may not be able to fix any problems related to the foundation. So it is better to call a professional to handle the situation.

Home Exterior Painting:

Painting your home’s exterior is an excellent way to seal the surfaces and protect the house from any moisture damage. Look for the places that often lose color or peel. A simple touch up of paint is sufficient. It is not necessary to paint each square inch.

Get the Whole Family Involved:

It is almost impossible to perform all maintenance activities on your own. So the best way is to engage all family members and distribute the responsibilities. I specifically share the same trick with all parents who come to meet me at our tuition in Singapore. Whether it is homework of your child or any other household activity, you get to see better results when you involve an additional person in the task.

To Sum Up!

That’s it! I hope this outdoor home maintenance checklist will help you get started. Just like our physical health, regular maintenance of the home is also equally important. Inspecting your security appliances, plumbing, heating/cooling systems, electrical systems, etc. on a regular basis will help limit possible breakdowns and save a significant amount of money. Do you prefer any other checklist or method for outdoor home maintenance? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Author bio:
James Paul is a child development expert and educational advisor at Singapore tuition. In his free time, he explores different ways to improve the interior and exterior of own house.