Shifting from Winter Defense to Spring Renewal
Winter freeze-thaw cycles stress exterior building elements. Spring maintenance is all about water diversion: ensuring heavy rainfall moves away from foundations and inspecting exterior surfaces before heat sets in.
Clearing Downspout Flow & Foundation Grading
Clear roof gutters of compacted winter leaves and check that downspout extension elbows deposit rainwater at least 5 feet away from the home foundation wall. This prevents hydrostatic pressure from cracking basement slabs.
Unclogging Window Weep Holes
Vinyl and aluminum slider windows have tiny rectangular drainage slots (weep holes) on the exterior bottom frame track. Clear these slots using a wire zip tie so driven spring rain drains freely rather than overflowing into interior drywall.
Wood Deck Inspection & Washing
Sprinkle water on your wood deck planks. If the water beads into droplets, the protective sealant remains intact. If water soaks immediately into the grain, clean with oxygen bleach and apply a penetrating penetrating oil sealer.
Always maintain three points of contact on ladders and inspect rung stability before climbing. Never reach further than arm's length while on a ladder; reposition the ladder instead.
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Our guides are independently researched by the Raviro editorial desk. We do not accept sponsored product placements or paid promotional endorsements. If you spot an error or have an update regarding local safety codes, please contact our desk at [email protected].