Preparing for springtime

For those of us who live in a summer rainfall climate, the first buds on the jasmine should alert us to the beginning of springtime and the need to catch up on some seasonal maintenance of our home and garden. During the winter, the roof gutters will have been filling up with leaves, twigs and general pollution, often clogging up the downpipe inlets. Before the first spring rains, it is important to clean these out thoroughly, and wash down the gutters to remove the silt that will have accumulated. At the same time, it is a great opportunity to check the general condition of the gutters and downpipes: are there any rusted areas or holes? Are there parts where the paint has flaked off? When you rinse down the gutters with a hosepipe, are there sections where the water does not flow out easily - this is a sign that the brackets holding up the gutter need adjustment. A bit of work before the beginning of the rainy season can save you much hassle and expense later in the year. While you are up the ladder, check the condition of the paintwork if it is a metal roof, and cut back any branches that are too close to the gutters.

A gutter cleaned and ready for the first rains

Talking of rainwater, if you have a flat roof, this also needs regular maintenance. Just as with conventional gutters and downpipes, the outlets need to be cleared and cleaned. Flush them through with water to make sure there is no blockage in the pipes, as well as cleaning out any accumulated silt. At the same time, check the whole surface of the roof to see if there are any parts where the paint has worn off. Also check the parapet walls where the waterproofing has been lapped up - there should be a strip of flashing to seal the waterproofing against the wall, which sometimes works loose. You may need to call in a waterproofing specialist either just to repaint or to do more extensive maintenance. As a rule of thumb, repainting should be needed every five years and replacement of the waterproofing membrane every 15 to 20 years, depending on how harsh the climate is in your area. If the waterproofing has been done by a specialist, they will have given you a guarantee which will specify how often repainting needs to be done and will give you an indication of the "life" of the waterproofing.

An upstand against the parapet wall

While we are in maintenance mode, it is a good time to check all the exterior woodwork - windows, doors, deck and any other timber. If these have been sealed or varnished, these should be repainted every year, but check to see whether they need any sanding or other maintenance first. Pay particular attention to the woodwork that is exposed to direct sunlight, especially on the east and west sides of the building. If the woodwork has been painted, this needs less maintenance, but worth checking every year, as minor damage can be very easily repaired if it is not left too long.

Late winter is a great time to take a slow walk around your house, checking for any other things that may need attention. Are there any patches on the walls that need touching up? If you have steel windows, is the putty in good condition? If this is cracking it is a good idea to remove the putty and replace it, as patching seldom is effective and leaves the window frames vulnerable to rusting. Do you have any awnings? Check canvas ones by opening them and removing any accumulated dust and debris - do they need patching or even replacement? If you have adjustable metal awnings, these may also need some attention. 

Maintenance can be quite costly, but will save you much bigger expenses down the line. Make a note of all the things that have needed attention this year and use this to draw up a maintenance schedule that you can update every year so that you can see a cycle emerge to allow you to budget time and money in the future.