10 Summer Home Repair Tips

Here is a list of Summer home repairs to do to make sure your home has made it through the rough winter well, and is in good shape for the hot weather to come as well as next Fall.  This list is coming to you from Hometips.com, another great resource for all you DIY-ers out there!  Here’s the summarized list, click on the link for the full details.

Summer Home Repair Tips

1. Repair water-stained ceilings
Following a roof leak, there is usually a yellow or brown stain on the ceiling below.

2. Fix missing or damaged roofing.
Look for trouble spots on top of the roof (but only in good weather and if you can do this safely). Or, during the day, go into the attic with a bright, portable light to check for signs of wetness or water marks.

3. Fix leaking roof flashing.
Many serious roof leaks are not caused by missing or damaged shingles, they’re due to broken or improper roof flashing.

4. Fix siding leaks.
If you’ve discovered any areas where your home’s siding doesn’t hold Mother Nature out, you’ll have to make repairs.

5. Clear gutters and downspouts.
Water damage often occurs as a result of clogged gutters and downspouts. Dry weather offers a good opportunity for cleaning them out so water will drain properly.

6. Eliminate water in the basement or crawl space.
Has your basement or crawlspace become flooded? If it has, it’s important to dry it out to protect against dry rot, prevent moist air from being drawn up into the living space, and prevent the growth of mold.

7. Repair storm doors.
Buffeting winds can take a toll on storm doors. Often, the door closer becomes bent, breaks, or pulls away from the doorjamb.

8. Block air leaks.
Indoors, cold weather often becomes most evident by cold drafts caused when air leaks through and around windows and doors.

9. Repair rotted woodwork.
Where wood sills or sash have taken serious abuse from weather–resulting in rot, you can use epoxy wood filler, available at home centers, to repair the area. Use a chisel to dislodge most of the loose, rotted wood. Drill a few 1/4-inch holes into the damaged wood. Soak the entire rotted area with liquid epoxy “consolidant” to transform the area into a sturdy base for filler. Let the wood absorb it for about 5 minutes, then reapply, wait, reapply, and continue until the wood ceases to accept consolidant.

10. Service your furnace and/or air conditioner.

With forced-air systems, air returning to the air handler’s blower first passes through an air filter designed to catch dust and debris and help clean the air before it’s recycled to your home. A good furnace filter can help reduce allergens. When filters become clogged with dust, they cut down on a furnace’s efficiency. Change filters quarterly or sooner if they look dirty.