The Ultimate Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

After winter has taken its toll, use this complete checklist to shape up your home for the warmer seasons ahead.

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Greg Haskett, vice president of The HomeTeam Inspection Service (www.hometeaminspection.com), knows homes are like many living things. "Homes live and breathe," he says, "Homes change, homes move" and — like many of us — homes need a tune-up after the long winter months. After the season has taken a toll on your house, everything from the roof to the sump pump will need a once-over. Fortunately, spring is the best time to reassess your house.

When The HomeTeam Inspection Service, a franchise specializing in home inspections, began in 1994 only 25 percent of homes were inspected; today the number is above 90 percent. But while homeowners usually learn of an inspection when they buy or sell a house, it's the inspections they make in between that really matter. "Your car depreciates, yet [most of us] treat it like a baby," says Haskett. "Your home appreciates, yet so many people don’t take care of it."

Whip your house into shape this spring with this handy checklist.
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Print a PDF of the handy checklist.

Inspect Brickwork and Stucco

Spalling is a chipping or popping away of a brick's face, leaving the brick's interior susceptible to moisture and crumbling. Look for this and any deteriorated mortar which typically occurs on older homes.

Is your brick plagued with efflorescence, those unsightly white deposits caused by soluble salts left behind during water evaporation? The Brick Industry Association recommends dry brushing in warm, dry weather to remove it.

If you discover water penetration in brick, considering sealing the brick with an appropriate sealant.

Replace Rotted Siding or Trim; Repaint as Necessary

Ron Gibbs, president of House Doctors Handyman Service (www.housedoctors.com), says repainting siding or trim is often more than a one-weekend project. "You just can't touch it up here and there," he says, "you need to paint the whole thing" or at least a section at a time for color consistency.

Clean Gutters and Downspouts

Make sure gutters and downspouts direct water away from the house.

If you live in a place where there's a lot of freezing and thawing gutters will expand and contract, so make sure they are flush to the roof with no sags or dips, says Haskett.

Gibbs recommends getting a professional cleaning if you live in a two-story house. Do-it-yourselfers will be safer cleaning a ranch home.

Consider installing gutter guards.

Inspect Your Roof

Shingles that curl (turn up) and claw (turn down) can make your roof inefficient and susceptible to leaks, says Haskett.

Call a minimum of three roofers before committing to one for repairs. You'll educate yourself in the process and end up with a better deal.

Get a Chimney Check-Up

Have a professional chimney sweep clean/inspect your active or decorative chimney. Professionals should also check the chimney flue and cap for cracks or leaking. Gibbs says the pros have the right equipment to get the job done in a couple of hours. "If you do it yourself, it'll take you more than that," he says.

Don't Overlook Your Attic

Check your attic for proper ventilation and birds nests.

Look for obstructions over vents, damaged soffit panels, roof flashing leaks and wet spots on insulation. Keeping a good airflow will save you when it comes to cooling costs, says Haskett.

When you're rooting around, wear long sleeves and gloves to protect yourself from insulation.

Check Your Heat/Air Unit; Change Batteries in Detectors

You can change filters and clean the air purifier, says Gibbs, but leave the rest to the pros.

Spring is also a good time to have your ducts professionally cleaned. It'll make your indoor air quality healthier and your furnace more efficient.

Change batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Prune Landscaping and Create Good Drainage

Shrubs and landscaping help against soil erosion, but should be planted to form a negative grade, which means water will flow away from the house. "You don't want growth up against the foundation of the home itself," says Greg Haskett.

Give Concrete a Little TLC

Seal and inspect asphalt or concrete driveways. Most of us put off sealing driveways until the fall, but the spring is an ideal time to do it, says Gibbs. The sealer you use, driveway material and climate will affect how often you need to seal your driveway.
Power wash concrete patios; inspect decks for rotting wood and secure railings. Seal both if necessary.
Have a professional service your pool.

Weatherproof Windows and Doors

Remove interior storm windows (old homes only) and replace screens on clean windows and doors."Think about this as far as how you're going to live," says Haskett. "If you don't have air conditioning you want to make sure you have good air flow throughout the home." You can also save on utility bills by adding blinds to windows that face south and west. Haskett recommends opening windows when the sun sets and closing them at sunrise.
Examine putty/caulk lines around exterior windows and doors; ensure weather stripping creates a good seal.

Don't Forget the Sump Pump

Make sure the sump pump is operating correctly; install a battery back-up pump. Gibbs recommends putting in a battery backup pump because if your sump pump does go, "you won’t know until it's too late." The backup, another pump that floats above the original pump, will kick on when the electricity goes out. If your sump pump fails, an alarm goes off, letting you know the backup is working. A few hundred dollars will save you thousands in water damage, especially if your basement is finished.