Maintaining Your Home In 2015: The Smart And Essential Guide For Years To Come

Maintaining Your Home Starts With The Basics

Maintaining Your Home is something every homeowner must take seriously. Whether it be your refrigerator, dining room table or even your vehicle, every item in your home generally requires some sort of proper maintenance to guarantee the life expectancy of that product. Believe it or not, this same rule applies to home improvements as well.

There are certain ways that you may be able to maintain the product yourself, but in other cases it is best to call a professional home improvement company to service the product for you. When it comes to Maintaining Your Home, knowing the difference can save you time and money.

Maintaining Your Home From The Top Down

The number one area, in general, on a roof that causes concern or problems is your chimney. The method of chimney flashing has evolved over the years, as well as the products used. The days of throwing granules over tar to act as flashing have long passed. Today the common material used when installing chimney flashing is custom bent metal.

Something to keep in mind is that metal is a conductor. Therefore, it will transfer temperature, hot and cold. Due to the extreme weather elements that we experience in Ohio, freezing and thawing, expansion and contraction will occur. Because of this movement, the roof and the metal flashing can actually shift and warp, causing nail pops or even tears. This is one reason why routine inspections play a major role in Maintaining Your Home.

Maintaining Your Home With Proper Gutter Care

Another area that homeowners tend to focus on, yet overlook at the same time, is gutter maintenance. We all know that our gutters should be cleaned out from time to time, depending on the growth around your home, to ensure proper drainage and limit build up from Mother Nature’s debris.

But did you know that about every five to eight years you should have any miters, end caps and outlets resealed with gutter sealer? Gutter sealer is not a permanent, long term solution. Just like anything, it has a product life expectancy. If you notice water leaking out of your end caps or dripping from your miters, your gutter sealant has begun to fail, not your gutters. This is another key part of Maintaining Your Home before minor issues become major repairs.

Maintaining Your Home At The Front Door

Lastly, when looking at your front door, have you noticed the paint or stain beginning to fade? Maybe the finish is starting to blister? There is generally a reason behind this. Maybe the door has reached its last opening. But a question I ask is, “Have you had or do you have a storm door on that opening?”

Did you know the average exterior replacement door states “Not to be installed with a self-storing storm door” within their warranty? The reason behind this is what I call the bake factor. If your front door faces direct sunlight, the air pocket within the two doors can reach over 300 degrees. With temperatures reaching that high, sealants located on the door will melt and the finish will drastically be affected.

That’s why many door manufacturers automatically void the warranty if a storm door is involved. Some manufacturers have upgraded their production process, including clear automotive coatings, to extend paint and finish warranties. But even those doors are not maintenance free. A simple coat of wax once or twice a year goes a long way in Maintaining Your Home and protecting your investment.

I hope some of these tips will help you in the future when it comes to Maintaining Your Home. Now that spring is finally here, it may be time to start planning your next home improvement project. For more home improvement information, tips and ideas, check out my blogs at www.TheHomeImprovementMinute.com.

Miami Valley’s Trusted Roofing & Exterior Pros

Since 1960, Thrush & Son® has proudly remained family-owned and operated, grounded in craftsmanship, honesty, and work that stands the test of time. Homeowners throughout Miami, Montgomery, Greene, and Warren counties continue to place their trust in our team for roofing, siding, windows, doors, seamless gutters, and complete exterior improvements.

We don’t believe in simply installing products—we believe in helping you make smart decisions that improve comfort, add value, and protect your home for years to come. Every project is completed with long-term performance and curb appeal in mind. For more ideas and inspiration, explore exterior home upgrades across the Miami Valley.