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Exterior Home Maintenance in Milwaukee, WI

As the temperature climbs with Wisconsin spring, and summer on the horizon, now is the time for exterior home maintenance. After many years of shifting seasonal weather, it’s important to inspect your home. And, if necessary, to schedule painting and even minor repairs to siding.

So, without further adieu, here is your exterior home maintenance checklist for spring.

Home exterior elements to inspect

If you walk around your home and look at the siding and structural elements, you will get a good idea of your home’s maintenance needs. However, if you have any doubts about your ability to inspect your home, reach out to professionals. They always know what to look for.

Peeling & Cracking — On wood siding, look for paint that is peeling and cracking from exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Over time, these are prime areas for moisture penetration during snow and rain. Cracking and peeling is quite common on cedar siding. In Wisconsin, the south/southwest sides of homes experience the most UV exposure, so keep that in mind when inspecting your home’s exterior.

Mold & Mildew — If you see mold and mildew on your home’s wood (or vinyl siding), it’s a sign of water penetration. Left unchecked, mold and mildew can cause structural rot.

Joint Caulking — Joints, where wood siding meets molding, are caulked to seal the exterior from moisture penetration. Look for any cracks or missing caulk, as this can be a sign of moisture.

Wood Rot — You or a professional painter or inspector can look use tools like a knife or screwdriver to inspect for soft wood. Soft, moist wood is not good and will need to be replaced.

Gutters, Soffits and Fascia — Inspect the soffits and facia of your home, which are the areas where the roof meets the siding. These areas, especially where gutters are installed, can be prime areas for moisture penetration and structural rot.

Chimneys — Not all homes have chimneys these days, but homes that have them should be inspected for water damage.

Animal & Insect Damage — Your home exterior is also prime real estate for creatures like birds, squirrels, mice, and insects. Each of them, in their own way, will create siding or structural damage (woodpeckers especially). This damage will lead to water penetration and, in time, rot.

Find rot before repair gets expensive

If you or an inspector looks for the items on the list above annually, you can save yourself a lot of money on repair costs down the line. If you don’t, you can expect to pay several thousands of dollars or more in repair.

At Lakeside Painting, we’ve even seen home exterior repairs costs anywhere from $15,000 to $80,000.

Paint helps maintain your home’s exterior

There is a reason we paint our homes. Yes, it looks great and makes our homes attractive. But at the bottom, painting a home exterior protects it from the elements like sun, snow, rain, and wind.

So, the best thing you can do to maintain your home exterior is to make sure it gets painted properly.

If you need help on your home’s exterior painting project, email Lakeside Painting at info@lakesidepainting.com or call us at 262-642-9445.



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