Before the mild weather of early spring turns into the hot, lazy days of summer, it’s a good time to inspect your home’s exterior. During the winter, minor damage may occur to your home’s exterior from heavy snowfall and/or freezing temperatures. Follow this simple home maintenance checklist so you can discover any minor problems and fix them before they become big problems.

Take a Walk

Start by taking a walk around your home and note anything that may look different. A cracked sidewalk, roof shingle lying on the ground, standing water near the foundation, etc. After a general look around, it’s time to focus on the exterior parts that winter hits the hardest.

Roof & Gutter Cleaning

The roof takes the hardest hits, not only during the winter, but all year along. Rain, snow, sleet, hail and the heat of the sun bombard the roof day after day. It’s not necessary to climb up on the roof, a good eye and pair of binoculars is all you need to spot minor problems. Look for missing or shifted shingles, seams in metal roofing that are not flush or anything else that seems unusual and could lead to a leaky roof. And of course, make sure your gutters aren’t full from leaves falling in spring. If so, be sure to have them cleaned to prevent water damage.

Chimneys

If your home has a chimney, give it a thorough visual inspection. Look for missing bricks or stones. Also look for any greenery that may be growing out of cracked joints in the chimney. Growing vegetation is a sign of water infiltrating the chimney. If there are white deposits on the chimney bricks, that indicates the joints are absorbing water. In either case, the chimney exterior will need to be re-sealed with a water barrier solution.

Exterior Walls

Regardless of what siding material is on your home’s exterior, there are hot spots that can cause trouble. Look under the roof eaves, near downspouts and around window sills for any discoloration or water damage. Also, be on the lookout for any small openings that may permit ants, birds and other small animals to enter your home.

Foundation

Inspect your home’s foundation for cracks or standing water. Either of which can cause major structural damage to your home if left unfixed.

Windows

Replace broken windows and cracked weather stripping to make your home more energy efficient. Replace torn window screens to prevent insects from coming into your home during the times when windows are open.