Have you ever heard people say “Owning a home isn’t all it’s cracked up to be”? Usually when you hear homeowners say this they are referring to all the maintenance and upkeep that comes with owning a home. Home maintenance is the most popular complaint associated with home ownership. Have you ever wondered what you could do to decrease your home’s routine exterior maintenance?
Well, does your reoccurring exterior maintenance “to do” list include these tasks?
Winter
Check roof for repairs/clear roof of snow- Remove icicles/ice dams from gutters or roof
- Power wash home’s siding/check for damages from winter
Fall
- Clean Gutters after all leaves have fallen (maybe more than once)
- Seal door to avoid drafts prior to Winter
Spring
- Clean Gutters to prepare for “April showers”
Reoccurring
- Maintain decking (check for loose screws, rotting wood, etc.)
- Mow the lawn
Chances are it does, and most of these tasks are time consuming and/or challenging, requiring intensive manual labor. Imagine not having to worry about these items, or at least finding solutions to decrease the time each takes. Well we have good news! There are some ways to reduce time spent on, or even eliminate, these items completely from your “to do” list!
Here’s how!
Winter solutions
Roof repairs/snow removal
Think about installing a metal roof. Metal roofs are extremely durable and last for many more years than asphalt shingles. In the winter, snow slides right off of metal roofs so snow removal is not necessary. HOWEVER, because of this, it is very important to also install snow guards on your roof to eliminate ice damming and gutter damage associated with this avalanching snow.
If metal roofing is not an option for you, you may want to consider professional snow removal services. This eliminates this task from your list, and protects you from the dangers associated with this sort of labor. With proactive snow removal services, roof damage will be less likely.
Ice damming/icicles
Be proactive! Aside from proactive roof snow removal, heated gutters are a great option to help manage these ice dams and icicles during the winter months. We install heat cable inside of your gutter, which we believe has proven to be the most effective method. Heated gutters allow for a slow consistent melt. When heat cables are installed on the roof, this often voids your roof warranty and home insurance policy. Plus, this is not all that effective in preventing ice damming. By proactively managing ice damming, your ice damming maintenance will decrease significantly.
Here are some of the blogs we have written on ice damming and heated gutters:
Expectation: How do heat cables work?
Ice Damming Definition & Prevention
How to Prevent Ice Damming
Ice Damming & Water Damage Costs
The 411 on Ice Damming
Ice Damming: Are You At Risk?
Your home’s siding
Vinyl siding and steel log siding are great low maintenance options. Power washing or cleaning of this material will not be necessary very often, if at all. They are also durable, long-lasting materials.
Spring and Fall solutions
Gutter cleanings
Install gutter guards. By installing gutter guards, you will eliminate the need for exterior gutter cleanings. Guards not only keep your gutters free from clogs, but they also help to protect the system. The most maintenance that gutter guards will require is an occasional brushing off of debris that remains on top of the guard. One Gutter Guard’s chassis has a pre-sloped 7-degree angle design to help aid in the correct pitch and also aid in self-shedding of debris.
Door
Consider installing a fiberglass or metal door. These materials are extremely durable and low maintenance. They also offer a weather-tight fit to help keep out water and/or drafts from air leaks.
Reoccurring solutions
Decking
Instead of installing a wood deck or patio, consider composite decking. This is the material that has a sort of plastic wood finish. It is made of plastic and sawdust and requires no staining, paint, or sanding. It also does not splinter, or rot, virtually eliminating deck maintenance and repairs.
Lawn mowing
Have you ever considered artificial alternatives? Installing artificial turf grass helps to eliminate mowing and maintenance completely. It also eliminates the eye sore of brown spots and/or dead grass. Although artificial grass may be a bit of an investment upfront, the time and money saved on continued maintenance may make it worth considering!
We know home maintenance, especially exterior tasks, can be time consuming and frustrating. By changing a few aspects of your home, you can significantly decrease the maintenance associated with these tasks. However, if these tips aren’t the right fit for your home and/or budget, remember your best option for exterior maintenance, especially those requiring ladder climbing, is to call the professionals! For all your gutter services and maintenance needs call The Brothers! For all other needs, we have a large pool of professional contractors that we can recommend!