5 Practical Tips for Exterior Home Maintenance for Busy Homeowners
Maintaining a pristine wall is important for your home’s aesthetic value and structural integrity. However, a successful exterior home maintenance project begins with understanding the basic tips for a successful, healthy cleaning that leaves your exterior space clean and the environment safe.
Besides cleaning, good exterior maintenance demands regular painting and fixing of cracks and any signs of weaknesses you might spot. Below, we’ll look at five quick practical tips busy homeowners can use to maintain an exterior space.
Wash Your Exterior
Your home’s exterior needs washing at least once or twice every year. Depending on the dirt or stain and the type of material, you can either pressure wash or soft wash your exterior. Pressure washing can help remove stubborn stains that have stayed on your surfaces for months or years. This wash also protects your siding or walls from mildew and mold, giving them a clean appearance.
If you frequently wash your surfaces and only need an exterior refresh, a soft wash from an experienced soft washing company can go a long way in boosting your appeal. This process can help remove dirt, pollen, mildew, mold, and more.
Inspect for Damage
Once you’ve cleaned your walls, pavements, and other external features that can be cleaned, it’s time to check for potential damages. Some homeowners prefer inspecting before cleaning, but this might not give accurate results as some damaged parts might be covered in dust, mold, or mildew.
Walk the perimeter of your home regularly, perhaps after a few weeks or months, to ensure every damage is attended to on time. Inspecting your walls, roof, or other exterior features after the turn of each season is a good way to catch damage on time. Check for cracks in the wall, broken pavement installations, or missing shingles on the roof and attend to each immediately, depending on the risk they pose.
Paint Your Exteriors
Fresh paint applied at the right time makes walls, walkways, roofs, and other exterior features look great. Once you’re satisfied with the washing and repair works, it’s best to consider a new coat of paint to keep your exterior space shining bright in new colors.
If you opt for DIY, ensure you choose the right paint for the job. Ask experts concerning the right quality of paint for an exterior painting project. You can distinguish paints based on washability, stain resistance, and sheen, making sure the one you choose is perfect for the space you intend to use it on.
Once you have the right paint, you can prime the surface for even coverage and a flawless finish. After priming the surface, it’s time to paint. Ensure you reach all hard-to-access areas with a paintbrush and the larger wall sections with a roller, which can help finish the painting faster.
Track and Remove Pest Infestation
When cracks, crevices, and gaps are left unattended for too long, pests such as ants, rodents, and mammoths might enter your home. If your wall is made of wood, you’re more likely to experience pest infestation than if you use a stone wall. Anytime you see cracks, crevices, and gaps, don’t be in a hurry to seal them before inspecting what’s inside. You might easily tell if pests are habiting your home’s wall or roof if you notice signs such as:
- Gnaw marks on wood, exterior ceiling extensions, electrical wires, and other chewable items in your exterior space
- Tracks of raccoons, squirrels, and other larger pets on your wall or nearby surfaces could be signs they live on your roof
- Nests
- A trail of droppings
If you notice any of these signs and can track the pests, you may remove them alone or contract a professional team to exterminate them for you.
Successful homeownership includes the challenging task of frequent maintenance calls, whether for interior or exterior features. If you’re ever going to maintain a pristine exterior, you must dedicate some time and effort to the whole process. A well-maintained home is not only attractive but also a good investment for the future.