Your summer 'To Do' list to keep house in great shape

Caulking windows is good project for summer.

I don’t know about you, but with the longer days and sunnier weather, my “honey do” list starts to grow.  Besides the regular lawn and garden care, summer can be the best time to catch up on your home maintenance. 

Save Time and Money:  Keeping things properly maintained is a lot easier, faster and cheaper than having to make major repairs. Getting after these jobs early will allow more time to relax later. Besides, did you know that “deferred maintenance” is usually not covered in most homeowner insurance policies?

For example, if you discover that a backed-up gutter led to a bit of moisture in your attic resulting in mold, you may not be covered.  Or if caulking around a window isn’t secure, and over time water trickled onto your hardwood floors that now need to be replaced, most likely you aren’t covered for that.   

When it comes to deferred maintenance – that is, maintenance that has been put off – usually water of some type is involved in the deterioration of a part of your home. (That’s why we at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor so often talk about the importance of addressing trapped moisture.)

So, while there’s likely less rain to cope with, we thought we’d give you a list of chores you should consider tackling this summer to keep things running smoothly at your house.

DYI or Hire a Professional?  Even if you are not a Do it Yourselfer, this list can at least give you an   idea of things you should examine (or have a professional look at) to see if your home needs some work. Of course, if you hire professionals, we recommend using licensed, bonded and insured contractors with good references.

Start with this list

• Wash and check each of your windows inside and out.  Is the caulking secure? Is there any evidence of water seepage or mold? What about window failure? Recaulking can be a simple, inexpensive way to ensure all that Grays Harbor rain stays outside where it belongs.

• Check your heating system. This is a great time to have your heat pump or furnace inspected and cleaned. (Plus, typically those companies are easier to schedule this time of year!)   If you have electric wall heaters, remove the front grills and vacuum the heating coils really well.  This helps reduce the chance of fire.

• Cut back all grass and vegetation so it does not touch the house and keep it trimmed back all summer. This is critical for maintaining healthy siding. To reduce the trimming maintenance, try using rocks or some other non-organic barrier around your foundation instead.      

• Call to have a professional take a look at your roof and (perhaps another expert) to look at your chimney. Does the roof need to be cleaned, are the shingles still in good condition? Is it time to re-roof, or at least to start saving for it? When was the last time the chimney was cleaned?  It is recommended that a chimney be cleaned every year if it is used with any frequency at all.  Cleaning makes sure there are no blockages and reduces the chance of a chimney fire.

• Summer is the perfect time to thoroughly clean up and air out garages, shops, barns and outbuildings. Wash any windows inside and out.  Keep an eye on your “junk” as you tidy up. Maybe some of the items can go to places like Habitat’s Restore in Hoquiam, the Goodwill or Earthwise in Aberdeen. Some of them may even generate a bit of extra cash if sold online or in a garage sale. Flammable liquids and materials need to be addressed with care – think about wadded up old rags used for refinishing items. They can spontaneously combust and need to kept in metal can with self-closing lid!

• Are you cutting – and stacking – fire wood this summer? If so, remember to place it at least 25 feet from your house to discourage bug and critter infestations in your home.

• How’s your deck looking? Especially if it’s older, you may want to give it a safety check. Check to see that the posts holding up the deck aren’t rotting at the piers and that the metal brackets are not rusty. Even treated wood will fail, especially where the deck boards are nailed into each joist. This is where water tends to get trapped leading to rot and failure. While you are examining the structure, make sure you see the hex-heads of bolts staggered along the on-edge deck’s rim joist which is attached to the house.  If you only see nail heads, you will want to consult with your contractor or building official for a much-needed complete deck inspection.

• When was the last time you thoroughly washed your sidewalks, cement steps and porches and any other walkways? That “green” that we’re so famous for here can grow in the form of moss on all those places. It doesn’t tend to cause much of a problem in summer, but when the rains come it becomes treacherously slick.

• This is the time of year to also consider staining or painting your decks and fences. Not only does a fresh coat of paint or stain on your deck and fences freshen up the overall look of your home, but it also actually can lengthen the life of the wood! Before re-staining a deck or fence, make sure to give it a quick scrubbing with 30 Second Cleaner first. It will dry fast and be ready for the next step. Power washing wood decks will require several drying days before painting or staining.

• While you are at it, check the strength and security of any fences you might have. If they are intended to keep animals safely in, check all possible escape routes. Maybe this is the year that you and your neighbor get together to build a new fence together or fix up the old one.

• When was the last time you painted your house? Our environment is rough on paint and stain, which serves as the biggest barrier you have to keeping the moisture out. On the Harbor, most homes need to be painted every four to eight years. The key to a good job is the tedious prepping – scraping off paint, re-caulking, etc.  House painting is a big project and, just like planning for a new roof, pre-planning for the time and expense of a paint job will allow you to make room in your budget.

• Even if this isn’t the year for a new paint job, a good scrub on the exterior can do wonders for the look of your house, not to mention that it can serve to lengthen the life of your paint job! We recommend 30 Second Cleaner. Apply it with a scrub brush – using a long pole, if needed, and give the siding a light scrub! (Make sure to rinse it thoroughly!) Follow the package directions and use a regular hose with flood nozzle to rinse off.  A word of caution!  In the wrong hands, pressure washers can damage the paint and siding. Using the Cleaner method is cheaper and less likely to cause damage.