Old homes often represent significant value. You generally get a lot for your money, and if you’re handy at DIY, you’ll be able to fix many of the reasons you get it for such a low price.
Even once you have everything in tip-top condition, though, old houses still come with a lot of responsibility. Their older structures make it more likely you’ll experience small maintenance issues here and there, and in some cases, a major issue can present seemingly out of the blue. It’s not as easy to spot brewing problems as it is in a new build, so this is always something owners of older homes need to be aware of.
It’s a lot of work on both the inside and the outside, and given that the interior is the part people tend to focus on the most, today, you’ll learn about three areas to prioritize with the exterior. Here’s how to get started!
1. Roof Maintenance
Roof maintenance is definitely one of the most difficult tasks when it comes to looking after the exterior of your home, so it makes sense to get it out of the way early.
Most people take a hands-off approach here to avoid climbing up high on a ladder, instead opting to call a professional. Your roof should ideally be inspected every six months to a year to check for any leaks, loose tiles, and general degradation. If anything is found to be a problem, it’s best you deal with it as early as possible; roof repair isn’t something you want to mess around with, as small problems can easily turn into serious issues if you’re not careful.
2. Doors and Windows
Your doors and windows require a surprising amount of attention throughout the year. As well as wiping them down inside, you’ll want to have them washed on the outside every month or so. You can easily do this yourself, but there’s also the option of getting a professional window cleaner in to do the job for you.
Drafts from degraded sealant or cracks are common around the perimeter of your windows and doors aswell, and again, you can reseal these areas yourself with some caulking and a caulk gun.
Finally, if you have brass door and window hardware, once a year, take it off and give it a polish – they’ll look good as new.
3. Landscaping
Unless you’re an avid gardener, the trick with landscaping is to give yourself the least amount of maintenance work possible.
This means keeping the grass nice and short and employing proper edging techniques, and then planting year-round perennials to avoid the hassle of lengthy feeding cycles and complicated watering schedules. If you want to negate the burden of watering as much as you can, you could also consider using an irrigation system.
Beyond this, think about adding some hanging baskets around the perimeter of the property: these always look pretty in the summer, and they’re at a nice height for easy watering.
Wrapping Up
By focusing on the above three areas, you’ll have a good chunk of your exterior maintenance covered. It’s not everything, but it’s a start; begin here and then reassess later to see what else needs looking at. Good luck!
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