Spring Spruce Up for Your House

Worn corners, mold, cracks and gaps in caulking and cracking paint: All of these are signs that another Midwestern winter has taken a toll on your home.
“To prevent expensive repairs later, it’s good to take a look at your exterior’s condition each spring,” says Jeff Hester of Hester Painting and Decorating, which specializes in painting, faux painter Chicago and exterior and interior maintenance. “Especially anywhere that snow can sit, those surfaces need to be checked – that means windowsills, steps and doorframes.”
Everyday wear and tear like chipped paint is easy for the untrained eye to spot. But professionals know that any break in the finish of your interior rooms – such as cracked, flaking or peeling paint – can be a symptom of a bigger problem.
“Water marks or cracking or splitting, especially near windows and ceilings, can be a symptom of an exterior problem. Even small cracks in the foundation can be further aggravated by winter elements, worsening them and making them even more costly to repair,” Hester says.

Hester recommends joining their Exterior Maintenance program in order to stay ahead of potentially larger and more costly problems. For no cost, Hester will review your home from top to bottom each spring, and give you a list that prioritizes items, from must-do’s to more aspirational tasks, with a timeline and estimates for suggested repairs.

“In 2002, with the last economic downturn, people cut back on maintenance, and three years later we noticed a greater number of bigger problems due to maintenance left undone, or done improperly,” Hester says.
Maintaining a house costs about 20 percent of the cost of letting problems go for three years and then having to correct a major issue.

One good example of an inexpensive maintenance chore that will make your home look fabulous is washing with spray soap. A common spring exterior problem is mildew growth, and that can be easily rectified by cleaning with spray soap and a power washer. In fact, a thorough cleaning can make a house look freshly painted.
Spray soap also works wonders on wood and vinyl outdoor furniture.