Prepare Your Home Exterior for Spring: A Step-by-Step Guide
Preparing your outdoor space for those magical summer nights should start now!
Even though it’s hard to picture being outside in this cold weather right now (brrrrr!!!) Spring is actually right around the corner. Now is the perfect time to start giving your home's exterior the attention it deserves so it’s ready to go for the warmer months.
Winter can be tough on your property, and while the cold months offer a much-needed break from outdoor chores, they also expose your home to potential damage—from freezing temperatures to snow, ice, and storms. Preparing your exterior for spring isn't just about aesthetics; it's about making sure your home stays safe, efficient, and ready to face the warmer months ahead.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you prepare your home’s exterior for spring and summer:
1. Clean and Maintain Your Gutters
Gutters can accumulate leaves, twigs, dirt, and even ice during the winter months. Clogged gutters can prevent proper drainage in the Spring, leading to water damage around your siding, foundation, and roof.
What you should do:
Clear out leaves, sticks, and debris from your gutters.
Check that your gutters are securely attached and free from holes or cracks. The brackets holding them onto your house can easily be tightened with a screwdriver in most cases.
Check for signs of leaking at corner seams. From the ground, you’ll typically notice dirt and mold accumulating at the corner joint if they’re leaking. A waterproof sealant like this can easily re-seal those joints and prevent water damage.
Inspect downspouts to ensure water flows freely. If they’re clogged, a drain snake like this can be used to clear blockages so water can flow away from the home.
Ensure that water is directed away from your foundation. A downspout extension can help prevent erosion, flooding in crawlspaces and basements, and foundation damage and cracking.
Tip: Gutter cleaning can be a dangerous task. If you’re not comfortable using a ladder or don’t feel safe doing this yourself, consider hiring a professional. For those in the Boise, Idaho area, feel free to reach out for a free quote.
2. Inspect Your Roof
Winter weather can cause significant wear and tear on your roof. Ice dams, snow, and strong winds can lead to loose or damaged shingles, leaks, and debris accumulation (think branches and leaves). Before spring rainstorms hit, perform a thorough roof inspection or hire a professional roofer for a detailed inspection.
What to look for:
Missing or damaged shingles
Leaks around chimneys, skylights, or vents
Ice dam damage (if you notice evidence of water damage in your attic or ceilings)
Grit or shingle debris in gutters (a sign your roof is deteriorating)
Tip: If you find significant damage, don’t wait for it to worsen. Repairing a small issue now can save you tons of money and headaches later.
3. Check for Exterior Cracks and Damage
Winter’s freeze-thaw cycle can cause cracks to form in your home’s exterior. These can appear on the siding, foundation, or driveway. Spring is the perfect time to repair these damages before they worsen.
Areas to inspect:
Siding: Look for cracks, warping, or holes in vinyl, wood, or other materials.
Foundation: Check for cracks, gaps, or settling around the base of your home. Small cracks can lead to bigger issues if not addressed.
Driveways and walkways: Winter’s freezing and thawing can cause concrete or asphalt driveways to crack. Fill in small cracks with appropriate sealants before they spread.
Tip: A simple sealant or caulk can work wonders on small cracks in siding, but larger foundation cracks may require professional repair.
4. Wash and Maintain Your Home’s Exterior
Over time, your home’s exterior will collect dirt, grime, and mildew—especially after a harsh winter. Spring cleaning isn’t just for indoors; it’s time to get your home freshened up again. While most people think that power washing (also called pressure washing) is an effective way to clean your home, the high pressure can cause damage by driving water under siding and into cracks.
A more effective method for cleaning your home exterior is a professional soft wash. This method uses low pressure combined with detergents to effectively remove built-up dirt, mold, and mildew from siding, decks, and patios, without the damaging high pressure of a power washer.
What to clean:
Siding: Soft wash vinyl, wood, or brick siding to remove dirt and mildew.
Windows: Clean windows, screens, and window frames to ensure good visibility and prevent dirt buildup. If you have hard water in your area, be sure to do this immediately after washing the house to avoid hard water buildup on your windows.
Decks/Patios: Power wash wooden decks, stone patios, and driveways to eliminate dirt, moss, and mildew.
Tip: Be careful with power washers on delicate materials like wood. Use wider fan nozzles (usually the green or yellow tip) and always test on a small area first.
5. Inspect and Repair Your Deck, Patio and Fencing
Winter can leave your outdoor living spaces looking a little worse for wear. Check your deck or patio and surrounding fences for damage caused by freezing temperatures, snow, or ice. Winter can wreak havoc on wood surfaces!
What to check for:
Wooden decks: Look for warped, splintered, or rotting boards. Treat or stain the wood to prevent further damage and maintain its appearance, or replace boards that have begun to rot.
Patios: Check for cracks in the stone or brickwork and repair them before they spread. Concrete can be professionally sealed to increase its lifespan and prevent staining.
Railings and stairs: Ensure they are secure and not loose or damaged.
Tip: Applying a fresh coat of stain or sealant to your deck can protect it from the summer sun and prevent it from becoming faded or damaged by moisture. Wait until you’ve got a few dry, warm days before taking this on, as you’ll want that stain to properly soak into the wood surfaces.
6. Trim Trees and Bushes
Winter storms can cause tree limbs to break, and overgrown branches may begin to crowd your home, causing potential damage as they come into contact with the roof or windows. Trimming your trees and bushes helps prevent this while promoting healthy growth.
What to do:
Trim back branches that are too close to the roof, windows, siding, or power lines. Remember, most limbs will grow 6-18 inches each year, so give them some room to grow.
Remove any dead or broken branches.
Clean up fallen leaves, twigs, or branches from around your yard to prevent mildew growth.
Tip: Consider hiring a professional arborist if you have large or hard-to-reach trees.
7. Inspect and Repair Windows and Doors
Check your windows and doors for damage or leaks that may have occurred during the winter. Not only can drafts make your home cold, but they also lead to higher energy bills.
What to inspect:
Weatherstripping: Check for worn or damaged weatherstripping around doors and windows. Replace it to improve energy efficiency. Most weatherstrips simply slide in and out of a track, and are very easy to replace!
Caulking: Reapply caulk around windows and doors where the sealant has cracked or worn away. You can get a tube like this from your local hardware store.
Screens: Repair or replace any torn window screens to prepare for the warmer months. This is a good place to hire a professional if you’re unfamiliar with how to repair screens, as it’s typically affordable and will give a much better result.
Tip: If you find that windows or doors aren’t sealing properly, consider upgrading to more energy-efficient models to improve insulation.
8. Prepare Your Lawn and Landscaping
As temperatures rise, your lawn and garden will begin to come back to life. Get a jumpstart on your landscaping projects by preparing your yard for new growth.
What to do:
Clean up debris: Rake up fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris from the yard.
Fertilize: Apply a good Spring fertilizer (typically high in Nitrogen - when you see numbers like 30-7-0, Nitrogen is the first number in that order, and should be higher than the other numbers!) to encourage healthy lawn growth as warmer days approach, and enhance your garden’s soil.
Aerate: If your lawn feels compacted, consider aerating the soil to improve water and nutrient absorption.
Tip: If you’re planning on planting new flowers or shrubs, start by prepping the soil and choosing plants that thrive in your local climate.
9. Prepare Your Outdoor Furniture
Once the warmer weather hits, you'll want to spend time outdoors. But before you start enjoying your patio or deck, check your outdoor furniture.
What to do:
Clean: Wash and clean all furniture, removing dust, dirt, and mildew and washing any outdoor cushions.
Check for damage: Inspect cushions for wear and tear. Consider replacing them if necessary.
Store furniture properly: If you’re not planning to use outdoor furniture immediately, store it in a dry, shaded area to prevent sun damage.
Tip: Use weather-resistant covers to protect your furniture when not in use, helping extend its lifespan. We cover everything in winter - our fire pit, barbeque, and furniture to make it last longer and speed up the Spring “startup” process!
10. Check Your Exterior Lighting
As days get longer, you’ll be spending more time outdoors. Proper outdoor lighting is essential for evenings outside as well as safety.
What to check:
Ensure all exterior lights are working. Replace bulbs if necessary.
Check for signs of wear or corrosion on light fixtures.
Clean light covers and bulbs to ensure optimal light output.
Tip: Consider installing motion-sensor lights for added security during the warmer months.
Conclusion
Getting your home’s exterior ready for spring doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We like to check one of these things off the list each week, so our outside area is ready to go by March.
By following these steps, you can address potential issues caused by winter weather, ensure your home is in great condition, and enjoy a beautiful, well-maintained outside area all season long. With proper care, your home will not only look great but also remain safe, secure, and energy-efficient throughout the spring and summer months. Bonus - you’ll be keeping the value of your home up, rather than letting it deteriorate over time!
So, roll up your sleeves and get started—spring is the perfect time to give your home a fresh start!
