Avoid Weather Damage in Northern Colorado with Regular Exterior Maintenance

Over time, outside elements wear down the exterior of your home. Seasonal temperature changes and even sunshine can damage your home. In addition, weather damage in Northern Colorado can cause significant damage to your home. Left unchecked, exterior maintenance issues lead to expensive and laborious fixes. Make sure you dedicate time every season to regular exterior maintenance. You’ll save time and money in the long run. Here’s a breakdown of what you should tackle each season:

Spring (Early March – Early June)

Weather damage in Northern Colorado threatens your home during every season, but winter and spring are particularly harsh. Snow, hail, and temperature fluctuations put a strain on your rooftop and outdoor appliances. Early spring is an excellent time to assess winter damage and prepare your home for the warmer seasons. At the minimum, you’ll want to do the following:

• Remove debris such as dead foliage and fallen branches and twigs in your yard. Clear out any growth or brush you don’t want. Be gentle raking and walking on your lawn at this time since new grass shoots will start to peek through.

• Check on exterior drainage systems to prepare for the rainy season. Make sure all of your drainage systems are operating correctly and that they move water away from your home. You might have to remove leaves and debris from your drains, gutters, and window wells. Consider getting downspout extenders for gutters or installing storm drains in your yard.

• Clean and prepare your patio or deck and any outdoor furniture. Consider power washing to remove grime on items that can withstand the pressure.

• Little critters and pests start to come back out in the warmer weather. Make sure your garbage is secure and clean up debris in your yard. Piles of leaves and sticks make ideal homes for any number of pests.

• Winter weather is harsh on driveways and sidewalks. Repair cracks when they are small to prevent more expensive repairs in the future. In addition, sealing or resurfacing can give the driveway a bright lift.

Summer (Late June – August)

Warm weather in summer means you have time for lengthier outdoor projects. It’s a great time to deal with maintenance you’ve been neglecting or start a new project! Stay on top of the following tasks to keep your home in top shape.

• Don’t neglect tree maintenance. Summer storms can lead to disaster if you have trees on your property with unstable branches. Hire a professional tree service to evaluate and trim the trees on your property regularly. The last thing you want is a branch crashing through your kitchen window during a summer storm.

• Make sure your yard is free from surfaces that collect water. Pesky insects, especially mosquitos, love standing water. After a rain shower, empty buckets, wheelbarrows, water cans, etc. Store items in your garage as much as possible.

• The summer means more spiders, mice, cockroaches, and other bugs. You can help keep out pests by keeping your garbage contained and your yard free from debris. Hire a pest control service to manage any seasonal issues you can’t manage on your own.

Fall (September – Early November)

Maintenance in fall is essential. Preparing for the winter is critical so you can avoid significant weather damage in Northern Colorado. To best safeguard your home, complete the following chores in the fall:

• Inspect the roof for damaged shingles and double-check seals around vents and chimneys to prevent leaks.

• Seal foundation cracks to prevent mice and bugs from sneaking in.

• Rake leaves regularly, so you aren’t overwhelmed with one colossal job at the end of the season.

• As you get closer to colder weather, drain garden hoses and store them inside.

• Clean and then cover outdoor furniture (or store it inside).

• Winterize sensitive plants such as roses, and stake any shrubs or young trees.

Winter (Late November – Early March)

Winter in Colorado can be rough. Preventative measures in the fall will help, but you also must maintain your home’s exterior throughout the winter.

• Make sure gutters and downspouts are cleaned out thoroughly of leaves and debris before the winter weather arrives. If your gutters are clogged, the water can freeze, causing them to detach from your home.

• Prevent ice dams on your roofline— remove snow from your roof as quickly as you can.

• Trim tree branches that hang too close to your home or electrical wires to avoid causing power outages. Ice storms can cause branches to fall; get rid of any dead limbs before the storms hit.

• Moreover, brush snow off nearby trees since limbs can break from the weight of the snow and could damage your house or car.

• Drain outdoor faucets and winterize in-ground watering systems so you don’t get burst pipes inside your walls.

• Be careful since it might not be obvious! Sometimes eco-friendly composite decks and stairs can be more slick and hazardous when ice forms. Stock up on pet-friendly salt or deicing treatments to prevent slipping.

Catch up on maintenance you have missed over the last few months and get moving on any late summer tasks. Hopefully, this list has given you a lot to think about so you can feel a little more prepared as we move into fall. For more homeowner tips, reach out! And stay tuned for my next article, where I’ll share tips for lowering your homeowner’s insurance.

Also, if you need to connect with a local pro to help you with any of the above tasks, shoot me an email, and send you my preferred vendors!