By Muriel Draaisma
Now that the weather is warmer, green shoots have begun to appear in flower beds and spring has clearly arrived, it’s time to take stock of what needs to be done around the house to prepare for summer.
For one east end Toronto resident, spring home maintenance means getting ready to go outside.
The furnace may need new filters, the hot water tank may need a check, but the focus is shifting from inside tasks to outdoor projects. Spring means getting stuff done so summer living will be easy.
Colleen Pilger, 42, a part-time theatre technician, hauls out her notebook entitled “The Summer Plan.” The notebook contains a list of projects that she hopes to accomplish between mid-April and mid-June. It includes everything that didn’t get done the previous year.
“By the end of winter, the inside projects can be put aside because I can’t wait to get into the garden. It’s like I’m coming out of hibernation,” she says. “Once the summer comes, I get to sit back and enjoy eating raspberries and lying in the hammock. It’s pretty sweet here in the summer.”
Pilger takes from the notebook a detailed map of her various gardens, including a good-sized vegetable garden at the back, a playhouse yard, patio gardens with herb planters and a meadow area with rocks, stepping-stones and mature perennials.
“Generally, what happens is I sit on my front porch with a cup of coffee and I plan,” she says. “Then I begin working on the list. I try to stay on track. I cross out projects when they’re done. Because I can get distracted, I need to write things down.”
Pilger has spent all winter doing inside maintenance. “With good fall prep, there’s not too much to do in the spring,” she says.
Now, she concentrates on working her way through the list. “I like to imagine that things could happen and then to be the one that can make them happen.”
Every spring, she does the following: she plans with her neighbour about which plants to purge, share or acquire; together they prune plants in their shared garden out front; and she orders annuals through a charity fundraiser that will arrive in May.
Then she picks up garbage on her corner lot; ensures her backyard is bunny proof so her two rabbits can be outside while she works; and brings out figurines, lanterns, the hose, tools and outdoor furniture. This spring, she will likely re-stain her front porch steps because of shovel damage.
Pilger also checks the perimeter of her house for damage in the concrete and washes the windows so she can put on the screens that were taken out in the fall.
Before she begins her outdoor work, however, she rakes the winter ground cover off the garden beds to expose the plants to the sun.
Every year, Pilger plans one big capital expenditure project for the summer. This year, it may be getting her dirt driveway recovered with an environmental alternative to asphalt.
Mark Salerno, district manager for the Greater Toronto Area at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in Toronto, says it’s important to maintain your home every season to protect your investment.
“Houses in Canada undergo a lot of wear and tear due to the extreme nature of our climate. That puts a lot of stress on building elements and components,” he says.
“You need to check constantly to see how they are functioning. If you don’t deal effectively with rainfall or moisture, for example, you could get issues with mould growth. That could affect air quality and lead to structural damage,” he says.
“The point is, you need to be aware of how your house is handling our extreme climate and you can mitigate its effects by taking small steps. There is a lifespan to all of these building materials.”
Spring home maintenance is one way to avoid costly repairs later. “It keeps the house in top form.”
CMHC recommends that homeowners do the following in the spring:
Outside chores:
-Walk around your house and make a list of areas that need attention.
-Check foundation walls for cracks, leaks and signs of moisture, and repair as required. Check walkways and driveways for cracks.
-Clean windows and screens and replace storm windows with screens. Check for holes and tears in screens and repair or replace as needed.
-Have a good look at your roof. Look for worn, curled or missing shingles or pieces of shingle that have blown off. Repair as needed.
-Open valve to the outside hose connection after the danger of frost has passed.
-Clean and clear obstructions from eavestroughs and downspouts. Ensure they are securely attached to your home and check for loose joints. Ensure water flows away from the house.
-Repair and repaint fences as necessary.
-Fertilize young trees if needed.
Inside chores:
-Check, clean or replace furnace air filters each month.
-Have your fireplace, wood stove and chimney cleaned and serviced as needed.
-Shut down, drain and clean your furnace humidifier and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.
-If you have it, switch on the power to air conditioning and check the system. Check or replace the air conditioning filter if applicable.
-Check your dehumidifier and drain. Clean if necessary.
-Turn off the gas furnace and fireplace pilot lights where possible.
-Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms and replace batteries.
Realtors confirm that regular maintenance is a good idea because it means “things that could become issues” are being monitored, checked and repaired on a regular basis.
Seasonal maintenance means there is less work for the homeowner if and when it comes time to put the house on the market.
“I think people should live in their homes and enjoy them. If you are going to sell, that’s the time to prep your house and get it ready for sale,” she says. “If you are looking after your house by doing ongoing maintenance, you are already halfway there.”
“It will cost you less in the long run if you do upkeep than if you simply let it go.”
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