Lingering problems around your house can quickly begin to build up and deteriorate if you keep putting them off. But, there are some jobs that are essential to start work on before they end up causing huge amounts of damage to your home.
Depending on your DIY experience some of these are jobs that you’ll be able to get done yourself, while others, because of the skills or equipment needed, are best left for the experts to handle.
1. Paint the roof & exterior
A well-painted roof prevents the growth of lichens and algae, and serves its purpose well.
Painting the roof is a job best left to experts and you should consider hiring a Frisco roofing company for it. Professionally done roof painting can extend your roof’s life expectancy and keep the house protected from different weather elements. Not to mention, painting the roof involves extensive use of ladders, which can be dangerous to do on your own.
And while you’re at it, you should also consider painting other parts of the home like rake boards, soffits, trims, and sidings.
2. Clean the basement
A damp and musty basement can lead to the growth of mildew and mold, which can make your basement stink. This usually happens because of water leaking into the basement from somewhere. In most cases, you can prevent that from happening by installing downspout extensions and gutters that take the rainwater away from the basement and keeps it dry.
In some cases, you might need to put drain tiles around the footings. You should note that this is an expensive home repair and also calls for professional help.
3. Clean the gutters
Nuts, twigs, and leaves can all gather in your gutters and clog them. And when a storm hits, a clogged gutter makes the water spill out and freeze on the driveway, creating a slipping hazard.
Plus, since water isn’t channeled away from your home, it can leak into your basement and ultimately give birth to algae and moss.
So if you haven’t cleaned your gutter in a while, make sure you do so now to keep the water flowing. You can also install gutter guards to keep the debris out of your gutter.
4. Fix leakages
If you see water spots on the ceiling or walls, they’re a sure sign of a leaky pipe or water coming in from somewhere outside. Since water spots can spread fast and encourage mold, it’s best to address them as soon as possible.
If the spots are constantly present, you most likely have a plumbing problem. But if they show up after the rain, it’s most likely because of a leaky window, roof, or siding.
The most difficult part of fixing leakages is tracing the source, especially because water tends to travel. But you can start by making a hole in the drywall or plaster where the water spot is present. If piping is visible, check for a possible leak.
If there are no plumbing leaks, you’ll have to inspect further by looking into windows, deck ledger boards, pipes, vents, and sidings with peeled and cracked caulk.
5. Replace the decking
Wooden decks are highly susceptible to deterioration and rotting, especially if they don’t get enough sunlight. If you’re lucky, only a few boards will rot. But in most cases, the rotting can spread through the deck and make the structure unsafe, which ultimately leads to loose rails.
So if your wooding decking is rotting, cut the boards to the nearest joist and replace them. If your deck is a few years old, it’s better to replace all the boards so they’re sturdy and the structure gets a fresh look.
We also recommend replacing your current decking with its composite counterpart. While it costs more than wood, it doesn’t rot.
And if tree branches cover the deck and block the sun, cut them back a little to allow sunlight in and keep the deck dry.
6. Fix peeling or cracking caulk
Peeling or cracking caulk is not only ugly, but it also allows water to seep through, which leads to mold and rotting. This is why it’s better to fix it as soon as possible.
Inside the house, caulk can loosen around backsplashes, sinks, and bathtubs. Meanwhile, outside you can find loose caulk around your deck ledger boards, windows, and doors.
The best part about this repair is that it doesn’t cost much, takes very little time, and you also don’t need any specific skills. You just need to scrape away old caulk using a putty knife, clean the debris with mineral spirits, and put in another bead of caulk.
7. Minor plumbing
Leaky faucets and running toilets are two easy repairs that you can do on your own. Plus, both waste water, so it’s better to do them sooner rather than later.
Nearly all homes have a faucet that keeps dripping water even if you turn it off tightly. Pushing on the handle doesn’t help either. Apart from wasting water, it makes an annoying dripping noise and can lead to a larger leak if you keep ignoring it. The same is the case with running toilets.
To fix a leaking faucet, you just need to take it apart and replace the O-rings and washers. You can buy replacement kits for your faucet brand from your local hardware stores for cheap.
Similarly, juggling the toilet’s handle can sometimes fix a running toilet, but it doesn’t work every time. To fix this issue, you just need to replace the fill valve and flapper inside the tank, and you’ll be good to go.
8. Get rid of termites
Termites can do a tremendous amount of structural damage in a very short time, so make sure you don’t procrastinate. Signs of a termite infestation include stuck doors or windows, damage under the wallpaper, and termite droppings.
If you see any of these signs, make sure to call an exterminator quickly.
Bottom line
While this is not a complete list of home repairs that you should do as soon as you can, it’s a starting point. So make sure you keep on top of that repair list so that you don’t end up spending your entire vacation doing DIY!
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