As the relaxing days of backyard barbecues turn to thoughts of school and work mentality, your home needs to prepare for the change of seasons. Summer fun, sun and nature have a significant effect on a home’s exterior. Although end-of-summer maintenance items are not necessarily as labor intensive as many spring tasks, these are strategies that can reduce repair costs and keep your home looking beautiful.
- Monitor and Clean Gutters: A house’s gutters accumulate more debris during spring and summer than many realize. Buildups of airborne dust and other particles can form a hard layer in your gutters, reducing their ability to drain roof water. Add early foliage into the mix, and that could be a recipe for disaster. Check your gutters for sediment and breakup and caked-on materials. Finish the cleansing with a reasonably high-pressure water flush.
- Trim Tree Branches: By trimming trees and large shrubs, property owners can avoid falling limbs during windy fall and winter months. Limbs that present as dead or in decline by summer’s end are unlikely to bounce back. It’s more likely they will negatively affect the tree or shrub before falling to the ground. Using an extendable tree limb pruner, stand away from the dying branches and saw them off. You’ll enjoy a healthier tree and avoid possible damage from falling limbs.
- Inspect And Repair Driveway: The small cracks and seemingly modest gaps that result from intense summer expansion and contraction are too often considered a spring issue. This thinking can cause a property owner sustaining increased damage to the driveway. Water can seep into those cracks and freeze. This may come as something of a surprise, but ice has the strength to separate asphalt and concrete. Rather than take on additional DIY work or pay extra for driveway repairs, deal with the issue as the summer heat wanes.
- Power Wash The Siding: A home’s exterior can be improved by regularly scheduled power washing. Spraying high-pressure water at the siding removes grit and caked-on sediment. One of the late summer and early fall issues to consider are mold and moss buildups. Warm, moist weather promotes their growths in shaded areas of the house’s exterior. It’s worthwhile to inspect these spaces and pay special attention to removing sometimes hazardous mold growths.
About the Author
Ryan Mandigo
Ryan Mandigo is an award-winning professional broker associate with Omni Real Estate. Originally a native of New Hampshire, his love of real estate began 30+ years ago while swinging a hammer on a framing crew. He has always had a strong passion for helping people, whether it be assisting a couple in purchasing their first home, finding a home that fits a growing family's needs, or downsizing for those with an empty nest. He strives to build strong personal and professional relationships with being a true believer in the power of positive thinking and always willing to lend a helping hand.
He is also a co-founder and board member of the Swing Fore the Kids organization. A local charity that is 100% nonprofit and their sole purpose is to help needy children and young adults within Horry County communities. He finds great satisfaction and pleasure in seeing how working hard for a great cause and raising funds can help others in need. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Waccamaw Youth Center in Conway, where their mission is to provide at-risk youth "A Place To Call Home"
When he is not working, he enjoys music, working around the home, spending time with family and friends, turning wrenches on vintage vehicles, getting some wind therapy on the Harley or chilling with their dogs.
Some quotes he lives by - "Do what you like and like what you do" - "You have to be odd to be number one" - "Dreams don't work unless you do" And one of his favorites. "Positive and enthusiastic thinking in all you do"
