Better Homes & Gardens Vermont White Spruce
Spring means most people will be spending more time outside, enjoying the back yard, and taking walks in the neighborhood. So, it makes sense to invest some time and energy in sprucing up your home's exterior and outdoor living areas. Here are a few ideas for cleaning, repairing, and improving the curb appeal of your home's exterior.
Watch the video to learn more.
For more tips and how-tos, check out the 4 Seasons of Home Ownership for home maintenance articles and videos, as well as the complete checklist for spring.
Start With a Clean Slate
Giving your home a thorough cleaning not only will make it look better but also will prolong the life of its exterior.
Start at the top by cleaning leaves and debris off the roof, cleaning the gutters, and clearing the downspouts. Then turn your attention to your home's windows and doors. Give windows and window screens a good cleaning, and clean and lubricate the window tracks. While you're at it, lubricate exterior locks, hinges, gates, and garage door tracks.
Clear away shrubbery from the AC condenser unit, so it has a little room to breathe. Over time leaves, dirt and debris build up on the outside of the air conditioner unit, decreasing system capacity and reducing air flow. After shutting off the power to the unit, use a garden hose to gently wash out the debris. You don't want to use a power washer for this job, as the pressure could bend or damage the delicate fins on the coil. Read Five Easy Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips for more info.
However, for many other surfaces, pressure washing is an effective way to wash away the grime and mildew left behind from harsh winter weather. Generac's 3100 PSI Power Washer, for example, is good for a variety of cleaning jobs, including home exteriors, driveways, patio areas and outdoor furniture. Watch Tips for Cleaning Your Home With a Pressure Washer for more info.
Make Outdoor Repairs
While cleaning your home's exterior, you likely noticed some problem areas that need addressing. Now is the time to make repairs to damaged roof shingles and gutters, especially if your home developed ice dams over the winter.
Wooden fences and gates tend to lean and sag over time due to exposure to the elements. Easily repair and reinforce a sagging gate by installing an anti-sag gate kit. A leaning fence is often a sign of a rotting post. Remove the rotten post and old cement. Support the new post and fill the hole with fast-drying cement that can be mixed in the hole. Once the cement is dry, reconnect the fence sections to the post. Check out our series on building wooden fences for more info.
Make needed repairs to items such as loose trim, wobbly outdoor furniture and mailboxes. I like to have Titebond II Premium Wood Glue and Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue on hand for outdoor repairs because of their water-resistant and waterproof properties.
Boost Curb Appeal
Now that the exterior is clean and all the repairs have been made, boost your home's curb appeal with some simple upgrades that make a big impact.
Refresh your entry door with a new coat of paint, or refinish it and apply new stain and varnish. You could also upgrade your door handle and lock, add a door knocker, or replace your doorbell. Check out Curb Appeal Starts at Your Front Door for more ideas on how to spruce up your entryway.
Make the walk to your front door more inviting by creating a path with stepping stones, adding potted plants to the front steps, or planting new flowers and plants in flower beds.
Improve the look of existing house numbers and light fixtures with a little sanding and some spray paint. Or, change the look completely with new or additional fixtures, such as these classic carriage lights from Lamps Plus.
Better Homes & Gardens Vermont White Spruce
Source: https://todayshomeowner.com/sprucing-up-your-homes-exterior-for-spring/
Posted by: dixonknour2001.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Better Homes & Gardens Vermont White Spruce"
Post a Comment