Wisconsin Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
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Warm weather is fleeting in Wisconsin, so we pack a lot of outdoor activity into late Spring, Summer and early Fall, including exterior home maintenance. Here are some essential home maintenance tasks for summer to protect your home from Wisconsin’s weather extremes.
1. Inspect, clean and repaint house siding. Siding is the second biggest surface area protecting your home (only your roof is larger), so it’s important to weather seal it properly. |
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Wood, metal and fiber cement siding all require protective coatings to prevent moisture rot or rust and keep them looking good. It's not just about curb appeal - weather sealing protects your home. Inspect your siding for fading, cracking or peeling paint, and missing or damaged caulking between joints and around windows and doors.
If the finish on your siding is cracked, peeling or has mold growth, that’s a maintenance issue that should be promptly addressed. If wood is not protected from moisture it will rot. Exposed metal will rust. Mold can discolor and damage siding. It costs far more to replace these things than it does to keep them painted and clean.
How often does wood siding need to be painted or stained? A good quality semi-transparent stain should last about 2 to 5 years. A solid color stain should last about 8 years. Professional grade exterior paint should last 10 years or more. The longevity of any finish depends on selecting the correct paint or stain, along with proper prep and application. Exterior house painting isn’t generally a good DIY project.
2. Weather seal doors and windows.
Check for missing, cracking or peeling caulk around windows, doors and trim. Any gap is a path for moisture to get into your home, with the potential to cause water damage and even encourage mold growth inside walls. Sealing gaps in siding and around window and door frames also helps keep unwanted pests such as ants, spiders and other bugs out of your home, and can reduce your cooling and heating costs.
3. Clean out gutters and downspouts.
Rain gutters are designed to collect water from your roof and carry it safely away from your home’s foundation. Damaged or clogged gutters can overflow and cause foundation damage, interior flooding, and landscape erosion. Clogged gutters are also a haven for unwelcome critters. Clean gutters regularly, particularly if you have large trees on your property, or consider installing gutter leaf guards if you prefer to stay off the ladder.
4. Have your roof inspected.
Damage and excessive wear to roof shingles is hard to see from the ground, so have a qualified roofing contractor inspect your roof at least once a year, after a major weather event, or if you notice damage or roof shingle granules in your downspouts. Catching and repairing problems early can significantly extend the life of your roof. It’s also a good time to inspect soffit and fascia, and any metal flashing for damage, corrosion or rust. Wood can be repaired, sanded and re-sealed, and metal can be cleaned and repainted to resist rust.
5. Garage doors need maintenance, too.
Test your garage door to make sure it’s properly balanced and operating smoothly. Ground level sensors should be cleaned and tested to make sure they stop the door from closing if there is an obstruction. Inspect the door for rust, especially on the bottom panel, which receives the most exposure to winter snow and salt. Professionally cleaning and repainting a single garage door panel is far less expensive than replacing the door or even a single panel.
6. Take care of your deck so it’s ready for relaxing.
Wood decks are another area that require regular maintenance, to prevent excessive wear and damage, and also for safety reasons. If a deck has dark patches, and gets slimy when it rains, that’s mold and mildew. Not only is the mold damaging the deck wood, people fall on decks that are not cleaned and maintained properly. That can create a liability issue.
All exterior wood needs regular maintenance and weather sealing. Inspect decks, fences, pergolas, and other wood structures for damage like protruding nails, loose boards, rotted wood, rusted hardware, and cracked or peeling paint. If you pour water on your deck and it soaks in instead of beading on the surface, your deck needs to be resealed or repainted. Repairing damage and weather sealing wood structures will keep them safe, beautiful and ready to enjoy all season long.
7. Easy cleaning projects can make a big difference.
The Schwaller’s team of professional painters has been serving Eastern Wisconsin homeowners for more than 20 years with high-quality painting, staining and drywall services. Their exterior painting and staining services include:
The window for exterior painting projects in Wisconsin is short, so it’s best to schedule an estimate and book your project as soon as possible. Contact Schwaller’s Painting for a free estimate today.
If the finish on your siding is cracked, peeling or has mold growth, that’s a maintenance issue that should be promptly addressed. If wood is not protected from moisture it will rot. Exposed metal will rust. Mold can discolor and damage siding. It costs far more to replace these things than it does to keep them painted and clean.
How often does wood siding need to be painted or stained? A good quality semi-transparent stain should last about 2 to 5 years. A solid color stain should last about 8 years. Professional grade exterior paint should last 10 years or more. The longevity of any finish depends on selecting the correct paint or stain, along with proper prep and application. Exterior house painting isn’t generally a good DIY project.
2. Weather seal doors and windows.
Check for missing, cracking or peeling caulk around windows, doors and trim. Any gap is a path for moisture to get into your home, with the potential to cause water damage and even encourage mold growth inside walls. Sealing gaps in siding and around window and door frames also helps keep unwanted pests such as ants, spiders and other bugs out of your home, and can reduce your cooling and heating costs.
3. Clean out gutters and downspouts.
Rain gutters are designed to collect water from your roof and carry it safely away from your home’s foundation. Damaged or clogged gutters can overflow and cause foundation damage, interior flooding, and landscape erosion. Clogged gutters are also a haven for unwelcome critters. Clean gutters regularly, particularly if you have large trees on your property, or consider installing gutter leaf guards if you prefer to stay off the ladder.
4. Have your roof inspected.
Damage and excessive wear to roof shingles is hard to see from the ground, so have a qualified roofing contractor inspect your roof at least once a year, after a major weather event, or if you notice damage or roof shingle granules in your downspouts. Catching and repairing problems early can significantly extend the life of your roof. It’s also a good time to inspect soffit and fascia, and any metal flashing for damage, corrosion or rust. Wood can be repaired, sanded and re-sealed, and metal can be cleaned and repainted to resist rust.
5. Garage doors need maintenance, too.
Test your garage door to make sure it’s properly balanced and operating smoothly. Ground level sensors should be cleaned and tested to make sure they stop the door from closing if there is an obstruction. Inspect the door for rust, especially on the bottom panel, which receives the most exposure to winter snow and salt. Professionally cleaning and repainting a single garage door panel is far less expensive than replacing the door or even a single panel.
6. Take care of your deck so it’s ready for relaxing.
Wood decks are another area that require regular maintenance, to prevent excessive wear and damage, and also for safety reasons. If a deck has dark patches, and gets slimy when it rains, that’s mold and mildew. Not only is the mold damaging the deck wood, people fall on decks that are not cleaned and maintained properly. That can create a liability issue.
All exterior wood needs regular maintenance and weather sealing. Inspect decks, fences, pergolas, and other wood structures for damage like protruding nails, loose boards, rotted wood, rusted hardware, and cracked or peeling paint. If you pour water on your deck and it soaks in instead of beading on the surface, your deck needs to be resealed or repainted. Repairing damage and weather sealing wood structures will keep them safe, beautiful and ready to enjoy all season long.
7. Easy cleaning projects can make a big difference.
- Clean and repair window screens and wash windows inside and out - this actually lets more light in!
- Inspect and clean your dryer vent and tube regularly - excess lint is a fire hazard and reduces the efficiency of your clothes dryer.
- Sweep and wash down your driveway, patio and walkways to keep them looking great and eliminate slippery spots. A professional pressure washing can remove stubborn stains.
The Schwaller’s team of professional painters has been serving Eastern Wisconsin homeowners for more than 20 years with high-quality painting, staining and drywall services. Their exterior painting and staining services include:
- Exterior house painting and staining
- Deck refinishing and staining
- Porch and fence painting and staining
- Pressure washing decks, siding and concrete
- Painting metal roofs, aluminum siding and garage doors
- Sealing and staining cedar siding and log homes
- Staining and painting exterior doors and windows
- Sealing and painting brick and masonry
- Staining and painting barns and outbuildings
- Pressure washing and sealing concrete
- Caulking windows and doors for weather sealing
- Services for residential and commercial customers of all sizes
The window for exterior painting projects in Wisconsin is short, so it’s best to schedule an estimate and book your project as soon as possible. Contact Schwaller’s Painting for a free estimate today.
