The Ultimate Guide to Preparing Your Home Exterior for Spring
After a long, cold, and lonely winter in South Louisiana, many folks are eager to visit the garden center and refresh their outdoor spaces with vibrant new plants. But not so fast! Before replacing outdoor cushions or spending weekends digging in the dirt, start with a thorough spring cleaning for your home’s exterior. We've put together a list of essential tasks to get your home ready for the season ahead—and it’s going to take some elbow grease!
First up: essential spring cleaning for the house itself.
Crawlspace Cleanup: If you’re in a raised house and had to protect your crawlspace pipes from freezing this winter with makeshift insulation or temporary siding, now’s the time to remove those protective measures and inspect for any damage or moisture buildup.
Termite Protection: Spring marks the start of termite season in South Louisiana, so check your termite contract, inspect for signs of infestation, and schedule a professional treatment if needed. Prevention now can save you a major headache later.
Pest Patrol: Check your home’s exterior for any ant mounds that are touching the house–these can lead to an unpleasant infestation. Also check for signs of rodent intrusion, setting traps where necessary and addressing any wood rot that allows for intrusion.
HVAC Spring Cleaning: Schedule a professional HVAC clean and servicing to ensure your system runs efficiently as temperatures rise.
The Great De-Pollinating: A fine layer of yellow allergen dust is likely coating your exterior windows, porches, doors, light fixtures and everything else. Use a broom or shop vac to remove loose pollen, then rinse with a garden hose. If necessary, use appropriate glass or wood cleaner to hand-scrub certain areas.
Soft Wash: A professional soft washing job can make your roof look brand new–seriously! Soft washing uses lower water pressure and a mixture of solvents to blast away dirt and grime. (And it’s much easier on a home’s paint job than a DIY pressure washing job.)
Gutter Inspection: Time for a biannual gutter cleaning. Gutters are designed to flow water away from the house. If they’re clogged with leaves, it can quickly lead to water infiltration and staining on the perimeter of your home’s interior ceilings.
Dryer Vent Cleaning: If your dryer vent is easily accessible on the outside siding, remove the cover and brush or vacuum away any excess lint. You can even stick a shopvac hose attachment in the opening, for a deeper clean.
Siding Check: Visually inspect your home’s exterior for any chipped paint or wood rot, and remedy immediately. Not only does paint provide a moisture barrier, but chipping or peeling paint are a red flag for both insurance and home inspectors, as well as appraisers.
Front Door Refresh: If your front door has been cleaned off but still lacks luster, it’s time for a fresh coat of paint or stain. Check out our handy guide to staining and sealing doors.
Now that you’ve got a sparkling clean porch and siding, you can plant til your hands are caked in dirt without worrying about harmful chemicals running off. The good news is, if you’ve completed all items on your exterior maintenance checklist, you’ve gone a long way in prepping your home’s exterior for a fresh paint job.
Not sure if you need it yet? Check out our helpful post to determine if it’s time to repaint your house. If you plan to do it yourself, acrylic latex paint is our recommendation for Louisiana’s climate. You can find the explanation why and other relevant questions answered here.
And, as always, if you need a hand with any exterior or interior paint job, we’d love to hear from you! Call Rouge Painters today at 225-573-1736, or schedule your free consultation online.