HOME LIVING | HOME Feature
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IT’S TIME TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE
! e v o L e m o s Give it By Jennie Renner
Yay! Spring is almost here. Before you go running out to embark on warmer weather adventures, take some time to give your house the love it deserves for sheltering you during the cold, winter months. Now is a good time to look around the exterior of your house for areas that may need attention. Kevin Hunter, owner of Windows, Doors & More, offers advice on how to maintain your home with the changing seasons. “Start from the top (of the house) and work your way down,” advised Hunter. “And look at all four sides… you want to stay on top of home maintenance, so it doesn’t get out of hand.”
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Don’t forget the windows! If you have torn screens or moisture between the panes of glass, look at repairing or replacing them. You’ll want to be able to open those windows and let the fresh air in as temperatures rise. Lastly, check your home for any area that might be prone to moisture. Be sure your water spigots aren’t leaking and look for any openings where water could travel into your house. “It’s important to seal off any trouble spots with caulking of some sort to keep the water from penetrating the envelope of the home,” warned Hunter. “Water is our number one enemy in home maintenance.” One more thing you can do - if you have a wood deck, now is a good time to give it some attention too. Look at power washing and treating it with a water sealer or stain. Or maybe it’s time to upgrade to a durable, maintenance-free, woodalternative deck.
On one of these warmer days, step outside and look at your roof to check for loose or missing shingles. “As you are cleaning up your yard of sticks or any other debris, be on the lookout for broken pieces of shingles, too,” he said. “That’s a sure sign that you have a problem with your roof that you will want to get checked before it gets worse.” As your eye continues down your house, you’ll want to check your gutters. “Look for any debris that might be there from last fall or that might have fallen through the winter,” said Hunter. Clogged gutters create issues when they overflow - or worse - when water flows back into your home. “You want to make sure that the gutters are cleaned out and running freely, all downspouts are attached, and everything is still connected.”
num or a composite material that will protect the wood.
Checking and maintaining your home now, while the weather is milder, will save you from sweaty repairs during the heat of summer. Your future self will thank you. shutterstock.com
Next, it’s time to look at the siding. Secure any loose pieces and replace missing sections. If you have wood siding or trim, check for peeling paint. Look at soffits, fascia, rake boards and around windows - any wood that’s exposed on the home. If you find issues, you can apply a fresh coat of paint or encapsulate it with alumi-
“The name of the game is maintaining things so they don’t get worse,” said Hunter. a
Resource: Windows, Doors & More, Fort Wayne, 260.399.6037, wdmfactorystore.com
