Many families host game nights with friends on a regular basis for entertainment. However, given current circumstances surrounding coronavirus, families are not having people over at their homes in order to comply with social distancing guidelines.
While this spring may not be what you had in mind a couple of months ago, it still provides you with an opportunity to do something productive. You can take this time to fix up your home and get it ready for the summer. Spring is normally a time where homeowners plan out their home projects, and now you may have more time than ever to make the essential home repairs on your list.
Plus, think about how great it will feel to get these repairs done and truly enjoy your summer. You can sit by the pool, relax in the yard, and plan fun activities for your family — all without having to worry about repairs. You can get your family ready for its first game night outside of quarantine with these essential home repairs for spring.
Repair The Roof
Your roof may look structurally sound, but there could be issues with it that aren’t easily seen at first. Spring is a great time to check on your roof and make any repairs as necessary. If you live in an area where winter brings snow and ice, springtime provides the perfect opportunity to see if your roof has any winter damage. Look for signs of leaks and cracks, especially if you live in a house that has an older roof.
Spring also brings heavy rains to some areas, which means your roof could sustain water damage. Check your roof and your attic for any signs of water damage. If there are warped shingles or rotting beams, you should consider calling a roof repair company near you. Fixing a roof is one of the most essential home repairs to make in the spring. The sooner you get it fixed, the less likely you’ll have any major issues down the road.
Fix The Plumbing
You may not have had time to do plumbing maintenance in the winter, but spring is the time to fix any plumbing issues you have. Fixing plumbing issues is one of those essential home repairs you don’t want to skip for a number of reasons. For starters, your pipes could experience a spring thaw from the winter. If they were frozen at some point but the warmer weather causes them to thaw out, your pipes could burst. If you’re concerned about this, you should contact a local plumber.
The rain that comes in the spring could also cause you to make fixing your plumbing one of the most essential home repairs on your list. Heavy rainfall can cause a lot of pressure to be put on your pipes, and it could also cause a backup. The last thing you want is to deal with a pipe bursting in the middle of family game night, so be proactive and take a serious look at your plumbing.
Check The Septic
It can be easy to overlook checking your septic system in the spring, especially since it’s underneath your home and yard. That’s why you should make a note to check it as soon as spring arrives.
There are signs that your septic system is in need of repair. If you notice a backup of wastewater, any pooling wastewater near your basement, or an unpleasant odor coming in your yard, you’ll likely need to have your septic system repaired. There are a number of companies that will fix it for you, so be sure to research an affordable septic service in your area.
Something to also keep in mind in this situation is that if your septic system may not need to be fully repaired, your septic tank may need to be cleaned. If that’s the case, you can look into companies that offer residential septic tank cleaning services.
Evaluate Your Home’s Foundation
One of the most essential home repairs you can make in the spring is repairing your home’s foundation. The foundation of your home is important because it elevates your home above ground and helps insulate your home. The colder weather from the winter months could cause your foundation to crack or shift. Other signs your foundation could be in need of repair include uneven floors, doors getting stuck when you’re shutting them, and musty odors in your basement.
While you can opt to try and fix your foundation yourself, it could end up costing you a pretty penny. Plus, if you end up not doing it right, you could end up doing more damage. If you have foundation issues, contact a company that does residential foundation repair and see what they can do for you. It may take time and money, but it beats playing Twister on an uneven floor.
Replace Old Appliances
Spring is a great time to follow an “out with the old, in with the new” mantra. Check your appliances and see if they need repairs or upgrades. These appliances include your refrigerator, dishwasher, and washer and dryer. If you don’t want to replace these appliances, then consider making some important repairs if they’re needed.
Another important appliance to consider replacing is your stove. You may think it works great, but there could be underlying issues that could cause it to break at any moment. Imagine you’re making delicious snacks for family game night, and then your stove suddenly breaks. What are you going to do then? Take proactive steps and see if your stove is in good shape. If it isn’t, you can contact an appliance repair company (or, if you have a gas range stove, a gas range repair service) to make repairs. Or, you could replace your stove altogether.
Test The Air Conditioner
You may not think that testing and fixing the air conditioner is one of the essential home repairs to make, but it’s more important than you think. Imagine going to turn your air conditioner on the first hot day of the season…but no cold air comes out. Now what?
Test your air conditioner in the spring, before the summer weather hits. If you have a single-unit air conditioner, plug it in and turn it on. If you hear any alarming noises, smell smoke, or don’t feel any cold air blowing, you’ll likely need to get it repaired. If your air conditioning runs through a cooling system in your home, check your HVAC system to ensure all is working smoothly. If you find issues with your air conditioner, you can contact a residential air conditioner contractor to help with repairs.
Update Your Exterior
One of the essential home repairs homeowners should take on in the spring is fixing up the exterior of their home. This includes power washing your home’s siding and seeing if there are any chips or cracks that need to be mended. You should also take this time to check if the outside of your windows is intact, and if you have stairs leading up to your door you should also check that they’re structurally sound. You can also use this time to check your driveway and walkway for cracks and holes.
Your home’s exterior may need repairs, but you may not have the money for it. Some home exterior repairs can be expensive, but if you put them off the problems could get worse. If you need help paying for repairs, see if you can borrow money from a bank or a hard money lender. The repaired exterior could add value to your home. If you decide to sell, you could make the money you borrowed back.
While you’re making exterior repairs, you can also look around your home and see if there are signs that animals are burrowing near your basement or in your yard. If you walk around your home and notice holes that have been dug along your foundation or basement, that means animals may be living below your home. If you suspect this, it’s best to call an exterminator or animal control service to discuss how to handle it.
Check The Gutters
Your gutters could be clogged with debris that piled up between the fall and winter seasons. Once spring comes, take the time to clean them out and check them for damage. Check if there are any cracks or leaks, water damage, or mildew forming.
Working gutters play an important part in keeping the exterior of your home intact. Gutters catch any rain or melting snow and direct it away from the house. This helps prevent your home from sustaining water damage. A lot of people choose to clean their gutters on their own, but if you don’t feel comfortable cleaning them yourself you can look into professional gutter cleaning services. If your gutters are damaged, you can choose to replace them yourself or hire a professional to do it.
Repair The Deck
After quarantine, you may want to host a big game night for your family and have it on the deck. Before you make any plans, take the time to evaluate the deck and see if it needs any repairs. This is one of those essential home repairs you may not think of making at first, but you’ll want to fix it up sooner rather than later.
There are some key signs of damage to look for when examining your deck. First, see if the stairs or rails are loose. Issues like this should be a top priority to fix since it could impact your family’s safety. You should also look for loose or protruding nails, chipped or peeling paint, splintered wood, or wood rot. If any of these issues come up, come up with a game plan to get it fixed so you can use your deck once summer comes around.
Get Your Yard In Shape
Your yard is part of your home, and if it needs to be fixed, you should prioritize it along with your other essential home repairs. Spring typically makes your yard a bit muddy, but it also provides an opportunity to asses if it needs repairs.
The first thing to do is get rid of any debris that stuck around through the late fall and winter. The sooner you get it out of the way, the sooner you’ll see if there’s any substantial yard damage to repair. Once that’s done, check for any deep holes in your yard. These holes could risk your family’s safety, so you’ll want to look into getting them filled. You can also use this time to look at your grass. If there’s dead grass in your yard, you can make a plan to get fertilizer and make your grass healthy for summer.
If you have trees in your yard, check how healthy they are. If there are dead trees in your front or back yard, consider getting them removed. The last thing you want is for a dead tree to fall in your backyard or on your car that’s sitting in the driveway. Auto insurance may cover the damage to your car, but the cleanup and aftermath could end up costing quite a bit.
This may not have been the spring season you were expecting. You’ve been told to quarantine with your family and go out only when necessary. While this situation may not have been foreseen, you can use this time to make essential home repairs and get your home ready for summer.
If you’re worried about tackling these repairs all at once, write them down in a list and determine which projects should be done first. Before you know it, you’ll be crossing the last project off your list. And once you can have people over again, think of how ready your home will be to host. You won’t have to worry about if your home is ready or what your friends will think of it — you know it will be in the best shape possible. Be proactive now so you can enjoy the perks of your home later.
