People usually look at spring like a breath of fresh air, and we might
add deservedly so. Still, if we would have to point out some drawback of all
that spring joy that would be that it makes winter look very bad in comparison.
Sometimes, quite literally. Yes, we are talking about dead plants, cracked
sidewalks, and other usual winter casualties. Let us see what we can do to
solve these issues and put our properties back in shape once spring kicks in
again.
 |
|
image:pixabay.com/static/
|
Clean the Gutters
Gutters are one of the most exposed parts of our house, and the one that
can potentially cause a lot of inconvenience if left unchecked. The truth is
that gutters’ “problems” start to pile up during the autumn, and the winter
just makes them inaccessible, but the outcome remains the same – Next time it
pours rain, your roof may suffer a serious damage. Do not allow this to happen
and use the first sunny break you get to clean your gutters. It should not be a
bad idea to inspect the roof and attic while you are there, either.
Check the Water Sources and Regrade the Soil
These two things are immensely important if you are involved in farming,
or you plan to start farming in the near future. If your property is too big
for you to control the damage your soil and irrigation have suffered during the
winter, you can even consider asset advisory, as a very
convenient solution to this problem. As for now, be sure to repack the soil
around your home so the water runs down to the yard during heavy rains, and
check your outside water sources for dry rot and winter damage.
Inspect Concrete Slabs
In a better case, loose concrete and heavy cracking are plain ugly. In a
worse case, they can cause damage to you and your home. Any of these reasons,
however, should be enough to call you to action. Clean your concrete slabs of
furniture, planters, and debris, power wash it with appropriate gas or electric
washer, and fill the cracks with the silicone caulk
or concrete crack filler.
Re-Caulk Windows
Depending on how severe the winter is, your windows may suffer a
substantial damage which is, of course, a bad news because they will not be
able to keep the warm air in, and the cold air out. Use the putty knife to
clean out any old caulk around the frame, and once you have cut a proper sized
hole, apply the caulk with the caulk gun, and use the wet finger or a damp rag
to push it into the gap and smooth it into a curved seal.
Refresh the Wooden Surfaces
Finally, you should pay some attention to the outside wooden surfaces,
which suffer from heavy humidity the most. Check them for the soft sports and
other signs of rotting wood, and if the damage is not too severe, approach the
problem with the usual “sandpaper - fresh paint” method. If the rot, however, has taken
too much hold or the affected surfaces are providing support to your home, it
would be a better idea to replace them completely. Do not worry, this duty does
not stray too much from the usual DIY territory.
No comments:
Post a Comment