Have you inspected your home’s exterior lately? At Team Construction Roofing and Exteriors, we think it is a good idea to perform regular inspections of your Denver home’s exterior, so we put together a brief checklist to help you remember all the items that should be looked at regularly to help save you money in the long run.

Prevention Saves You Money

When you spend a little time looking for issues around your home, you can save yourself a great deal of time and money. Making minor repairs to your home’s exterior here and there can save you from major trouble down the road. Intensive repairs usually take much more time and money and are generally much more inconvenient.

Start by Checking the Top of Your Home

Checking your roof is a great way to start examining your home’s exterior. Safety should come first though. Someone who has good balance, is not afraid of heights, and is generally in good shape should perform the rooftop inspection. Please be safe when performing a rooftop inspection.

A better option might be to use technology. Go with a digital camera or phone to take photos or even use binoculars to get a good look. Photos will allow you to compare your last photo with your most recent one and the comparison can tell you if there is a problem like missing shingles or cracked flashing around your chimney. Here are a few items to check:

• Roof shingles: Are any shingles missing or are there any that seem to be misaligned. Misaligned shingles can indicate loose shingles needing repair.
• Flashing: Check for any missing flashing around chimneys, vents, dormers and more. This is a prime spot for leaks to occur.
• Where angles meet: Check for water spots, debris that needs to be cleared away, or other potential issues.
• Check the attic: The attic is an easy way to see some roof problems. If you see sagging, you may have a serious issue. Dark spots or lines can also be signs of leaks.

Alternatively, you could hire a professional to inspect your roof. Team Construction is here if you need us, and we serve all of Denver metro.

Maintenance Around the Sides of Your Home

One important item is keeping water out of your home, whether the roof or elsewhere. It is unexpected, but often the sides of your home take more of a beating from the weather than the rest of your house, so there are some water trouble spots you need to keep an eye on:

• Fascia boards and soffits: Fascia are the vertical boards which face out and the soffits are the horizontal boards beneath the overhang. Both are just under the roofline. Checking these for water damage can point to trouble with your flashing. Additionally, if you soffits and fascia are made of wood, you may need to paint them or repaint them to protect them from absorbing water. Unpainted fascia and soffits can lead to wood rot, which would be costly to repair and replace.
• Downspouts and gutters: Be sure that your gutters and downspouts are working properly. They may need to be cleaned out, repaired, or even replaced.
• Siding and trim: Be sure that your trim is in good condition and correctly secured. For vinyl siding, be sure that it has no hints of needing to be replaced, such as bubbling or cracking. It may need to be washed to keep it in good condition. You should also check your wood siding which may be in need of repainting. If any of your siding is damaged, you may need to replace it.
• Doors and windows: If your doors or trim are wood, the paint should be checked. Additionally, you need to check the seals of your windows and doors. Your caulk may need to be redone. Your windows and doors are the most likely places for wood rot and water damage. Be sure to check your sills, thresholds, and the vertical kick plates just below your doors for any potential water problems.
• Foundation: Be sure to take a look in your basement or crawlspace. Check your foundation for any water damage or leaks. Concrete, though it is a hard material is quite porous. Any water issues around your foundation need to be taken care of to ensure that your foundation or concrete slab stay in good condition.
• Decks, stairs, and porches: Depending on the material used for these structures, they may need paint, re-staining, cleaning, or additional maintenance. With any material, regular maintenance will extend the life of your porches, decks, and stairs.

Additional Exterior Home Maintenance Checklist Items

In additions to the above items, to keep your home in excellent shape and to save you time and money, check the following areas or items:

• Sidewalks and driveways: Check for any cracks or holes which could cause accidents. Your sidewalks or driveway may benefit from sealing to help them last longer and stay in better shape.
• Windows: Check them for any maintenance needs and wash them. If you’re getting cold drafts in the winter and having to run your AC more often during the summer, your windows may need to be replaced with more energy-efficient ones.
• Mailboxes: Since we live in a place which gets lots of snow, our mailboxes take a regular beating. You may want to check your post for damage. It may benefit from a coat of paint.
• Yard Clean-up: Trimming trees closely located to your house, along with the rest of your regular yard maintenance, will help you avoid storm damage to your roof and other exterior structures.

So, have you inspected your home’s exterior lately? If not, now is a really good opportunity to do so, before we head into winter. If you find you need a professional to help with your inspection or repairs to your home’s exterior, contact us at Team Construction Roofing and Exteriors. We can help you keep your Denver home in good shape and save you from major repairs in the future.