A Few Spring Maintenance Tips to Help With All the Rain

These Spring maintenance tips will help you protect your home from all of the rain this season as well as save you time and money down the road!

1. Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Make repairs now before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood.

2. Check for loose or leaky gutters. Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.

3. Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.

To elaberate a little more…

Gutters and Downspouts

It is really important to make sure gutters and downspouts remain bonded to the home. Every spring it is necessary to check for loose downspouts and sagging gutters. Tighten any loose gutter straps and, if spout extensions have been added to help keep water away from the house, make sure to reconnect any that have come loose. It is critical to keep gutters and downspouts clear and free flowing. Consider adding a few helpful accessories to your gutters like screens to cover the spouts or gutter cap systems that go a long way to keep gutters and downspouts free flowing.

Re-Grade Around Foundation

Note: If water pools against the home’s foundation it’s only a matter of time before it finds its way into the house. In order to create positive drainage, it is important to remove any mulch or debris from the surface before moving the soil. The mulch can be reused on the new spot but it’s important not to mix it with the soil. A mixture of soil, mulch and debris can actually make drainage problems worse. A small area should only need a vertical drop of about half an inch per foot. Once enough of the soil has been moved tamp it down well to make sure it stays in place. Then add back the covering mulch.