Spring household maintenance

Now that this winter is a thing of the past, it’s important to take advantage of spring’s arrival to go over the house with a fine-toothed comb. Snow, ice, cold and the wind have possibly, without your knowledge, caused damage to your home. To know for sure, it’s necessary to proceed with a full inspection of your home.
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The roof
Gutters and downspouts
Exterior siding and foundations
Doors and windows
Wood structures
The porch and balcony
Outdoor accessories
Floors, walls and ceilings
Indoor housecleaning

The roof

  • Since the roof is particularly vulnerable to the rigors of Canadian winters, it’s important to proceed with a visual inspection each spring. By quickly detecting minor problems, you’ll reduce the risk of expensive repairs. If you’re able to see the entire roof from the ground, it won’t be necessary to climb up. If this is the case, use binoculars. Otherwise, use a ladder to climb on the roof, making sure to respect elementary safety rules.
  • Pay attention to the shingles. Make sure that they’re solidly nailed to the roof and replace any that have been damaged by the snow, ice or the wind. Also inspect the flashing around the chimney as well as the ventilation ducts. Be sure that they’re not damaged or warped and replace the caulking if necessary. If there’s a satellite dish on the roof, check to see that the installation is solid. As you walk on the roof, check for areas that are warped, that have sunk or for soft zones. If you notice any irregularities, don’t hesitate to call a specialist.
  • If your chimney is made of brick, check the mortar joints and especially, the upper part of the chimney, as the mortar joints that make up the chimney are exposed to more intense winds they tend disintegrate faster than those located at the base of the chimney. To prevent this, you may annually apply waterproof protection all over the chimney. Such waterproofing could also be applied to the brick walls of the house.
  • Clean the soffits under the eaves and check that the supports are solid. If they’re loose, solidify them. Be sure that the ventilation panels are leak free and correct any problems if necessary. Clean the ventilator turbines.

Gutters and downspouts

  • To allow water to flow freely, gutters and downspouts must be free of ice and debris of all kinds (leaves, branches, etc.). Cleaning gutters and downspouts can be done from the roof or standing on a ladder. Remove the major portion with your hands and finish with a high-pressure hose.
  • If you find a leak, you can plug it with roofer’s cement that’s applied after thoroughly cleaning the surface. In the case of a major leak, it’s preferable to replace the entire section. After the repair work, test the gutters’ efficiency by pouring in a bucket of water. To prevent water from leaking into the house, make sure that it flows away from the house when it comes out of the downspouts.
  • Winter weather conditions can affect gutter efficiency. Make sure that the sections are in line to facilitate water flow and that they’re solidly fixed to the house’s structural elements.

Exterior siding and foundations

  • Aluminium and PVC siding: straighten and screw in warped sections. If necessary, cut out a damaged section and insert a new piece that you screw into the wall.
  • Bricks: check the condition of the bricks and the mortared joints. Replace damaged bricks if necessary and refill the joints with a compound made for this purpose.
  • Cement siding: check the cement’s condition and refill gaps with a compound made for this purpose.
  • Wood siding: check the wood’s condition and make sure that each piece is solidly fixed to the building structure. Fill the holes left by the knots that have fallen out. Apply a new coat of paint or wood stain.
  • Stucco siding: check the stucco’s condition and, if necessary, refill any fissures.
  • Inspect your home’s foundations and if you find fissures in the concrete, fill them immediately before they get bigger. These fissures allow humidity to get into the house. Your home renovation centre offers numerous products to plug fissures.
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