Owning a home is a wonderful thing. It is a major part of most families’ wealth. But home ownership includes responsibilities and regular expenses. Do not neglect your home or it will lose value and develop problems such as roof leaks or insect damage. One place to start is the home’s roof.
The Importance of Roof Maintenance
The first place to start with home maintenance is the roof. A home’s roof is its first line of defense against water and insect damage. A roof that leaks water, allows inside walls and ceilings to get damaged by water. The damp environment that results can attract harmful insects and dangerous mold infestations. Keeping a roof in the water-tight condition is as easy as contacting a roofer to inspect the roof and repair any damage.
When a homeowner is looking to hire a roofer in Arvada, Colorado, go online to local contractor rating sites and check out local roofing companies’ websites. One company to consider is Arvada Roofing Company and their RoofTec roofing materials. Ask for a free roof consultation. Then, have them do any repairs the roof needs.
Eventually, the roofing is in need of replacement. Any roof that is over 10 years old needs regular inspections and maintenance to extend its life as long as possible. The trusted roofing contractor can let the homeowner know when a roof needs to be replaced before it starts leaking.
Once the roof is in good repair, there are other home maintenance tasks to perform so the house will last longer and maintain its value. Some tasks will help the roof last longer, and some jobs will keep the whole house in better condition.
The Most Important Maintenance Tasks Outside
Here is a list of maintenance tasks to perform on a regular basis, or hire someone to do for you.
- Do spring and fall clean up on the outside of the home including cleaning up refuse from the yard, putting down mulch in flower beds, caring for the lawn, and checking the outside faucets.
- Trees need care, such as trimming dead and diseased branches and hauling them away. Remove dead trees before they fall and cause damage or injury. Shrubs and flower gardens need cleaning out and trimming.
- Get the snow blower or lawn mower serviced and ready for the upcoming season.
- Take care of the outside of the house by checking the gutters, repairing any damaged paint or repainting the house, cleaning the exterior of the house with power washing, and repairing damaged trim or siding. Check for drainage problems.
- Check the deck for grime and damage and repair as needed.
- If there is a pool, have it serviced in the fall and spring.
Important Interior Maintenance Tasks
- Inside the house, the HVAC systems need annual servicing and repair as needed.
- Check the plumbing for leaks, dripping faucets, and so on. If there is a sump pump have it checked before spring rains. Check the kitchen sink drain or disposal.. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to deal with a plumbing emergency or any other plumbing issue that you cannot fix on your own, make sure to contact professional plumbers who understand the job and know what they are doing. Plumbing is crucial when it comes to preventive maintenance to keep your house in good condition.
- The chimney needs regular maintenance.
- The smoke and carbon monoxide detectors need to be checked once a year to be sure they are working properly. Fire extinguishers should be checked.
- The electric system should be inspected periodically.
- Check the range hood and clean any filters.
- Test the garage door for regular operation and safety features.
- Test the water heater and its pressure relief valve.
- Check for insect infestations and hire an exterminator to get rid of any that you find.
Additional Maintenance Tasks
- Clean out the garage every year to avoid a build-up of unusable belongings and junk.
- Maintain the driveway to avoid cracks and holes.
If a homeowner does a few of these tasks at a time, the list won’t seem as long. A good idea is to print a list of these tasks and check them off as they are done. Then, it will be time to start over. Some tasks need to be done once a month, biannually, or yearly.