With summer coming to a close and autumn fast approaching, creating a maintenance checklist for your outdoor living space is crucial to ensure a smooth transition from the changing seasons. From minor repairs to extensive projects, our checklist will provide all the tips you’ll need to be prepared—from the top to the bottom of your home.
1. Clean Gutters
Debris-filled gutters can trap significant amounts of water, and therefore it’s important to clean them out periodically. If necessary, replace any gutters that are damaged or worn-out.
Make sure that the gutters are not containing any debris such as twigs, leaves, or branches. Colored grit in the gutters is another item that should be noted. This is a sign of roof damage, as this type of material is meant to protect shingles from UV rays.
2. Check Siding
Clean off any mildew from the siding and be sure to look for missing, bent or cracked pieces. If you find anything of the sort, you’ll need to replace the siding. Fortunately, Warehouse ’71 has siding available and ready to ship, starting at $2.12 per square foot, making for an easy decision on siding replacement. Here you’ll find LP Smartside, Diamond Kote, Tando and Western Red Cedar shingle siding.
3. Clean Deck
Start simple by removing any buildup of leaves. Then check for mildew, decay or cracking in the decking. If you are experiencing any of these problems, make the switch to a more maintenance-free decking material by upgrading to composite decking or PVC decking.
Be sure to inspect all areas of the deck. Verify that all stairs and railings are sturdy and secure. Just like when we discussed backyard living space preparations for summer, a strong, undamaged railing is essential for both aesthetic and safety purposes. If you believe yours need replacing, try our composite or aluminum deck railing from TimberTech.
4. Outdoor Furniture Storage
Next, you can start contemplating how you want to store your deck furniture during the upcoming cold weather months.
There are two different options for this.
First, decorative chairs, couches, lounges or other seating arrangements can be covered by a large sheet or tarp and moved off to the side of the deck. However, because some materials might not be able to withstand colder elements over a period of several months, a preferrable choice may be to move furniture inside, away from any moisture.
5. Disconnect Garden Hoses
The final step is a reminder to pack away your hoses. By doing so, you can prevent water blockage in your home’s exterior wall plumbing. Plummeting temperatures in the winter can cause leftover water to freeze and crack the pipes, so be sure to disconnect in order to avoid damage.
About Warehouse ’71
At Warehouse ’71, we sell high-quality building products at unbeatable prices. Our products are brand new, and our colors and styles are timeless and modern. And they still have the factory warranty. We also have blog articles on our website that you can use as inspiration or resources for revamping your outdoor living space. Check out our website and follow us on social media to stay updated!
