Tips for summer home maintenance

August 2024 

The beautiful summer in Grays Harbor is not only well suited to enjoying nature and outdoor activities, but, unfortunately at times, also perfect for providing the necessary conditions to tackle the critical maintenance chores on our homes.

So, during the summer, it makes sense to not only play hard, but to set aside some time to work hard as well – or perhaps at least pick up the phone to hire someone else to do it. When winter comes, you – and your house – will be glad you did.

Grass, Gardens and Junk

Last month this column focused on how important “curb appeal” is for our homes, and that the simplest things can make a difference. With September typically a beautiful month on the Harbor, we still have almost two full months left of good weather to enjoy. So, keep those lawns mowed, the flowers watered and the porches swept. Even one potted geranium on the porch can make a difference.

And, if you haven’t taken that load or two to the dump yet, don’t let another month go by without doing so! We all tend to become blind to eyesores that have been on our property for a while. Take a careful look around, clear out the junk, pack up anything of worth to give away, donate or put on Facebook Marketplace. Those piles of stuff that homeowners tend to get used to having as part of the scenery, make a huge impact when they are gone!

Decks

This summer still has many pleasant days and nights left to enjoy your deck or patio. If you haven’t yet, this is a good time to power wash your patio or give your deck a good wash with 30-Second Cleaner.

Whether the deck is built from pressure-treated wood or some sort of Trex–like manufactured materials, it will likely need some attention annually to look its best and last for a long time.

For those with manufactured decks, a good scrub with Dawn soap and a nozzled-hose or pressure washer should do the job. Or, if you can actually see some green moss and mildew, first apply 30 Second Cleaner to the deck’s surface dry, lightly scrub it in and wait 30 seconds to a minute and rinse off.  The good news for you is that likely once the deck is dry, you are done for the season!

Because of our salt-water environment, wooden decks in Grays Harbor need to be painted or stained even more frequently than the every five to nine years you paint your house. Many people make it an annual or biannual chore to paint their decks. Think about it. Just imagine what the walls of your house would look like if the sun hit them directly and people walked on them!

And although you will want to wash the deck first, unlike a patio or sidewalk, do not use a power washer unless you are very, very skilled with it. A power washer can drive water so deep into the deck that it can actually cause damage, or at the least take a very long time to dry out.

The summer is also a great time to check for deck safety. Ensure that your deck is securely fastened to the house and that the top deck boards, wooden beams and posts are still solid and sound. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, a local building official or contractor can help you determine if your deck needs repair or replacement.

Siding and Gutters

Just like a freshly painted deck helps preserve it, the same is true of your house itself. It’s not too late to give it a fresh coat of paint. Or, at the very least, even if you don’t paint your house this year, a scrub and rinse will get the grime off and actually help your current paint job last.

If you don’t have gutter guards to keep out debris or your gutters themselves need to be secured tightly to your house, this is also a great time to take care of those issues.

Caulking keeps moisture out

Even if you don’t decide to paint your house this year, checking the caulking around the windows and doors is a good idea.

Ultraviolet light from the sun may lift our moods, but it damages caulk. A good caulk job should be hidden from the sun and elements by paint or flashing whenever possible. So, if the caulk around windows and doors looks like it’s weathered, it’s time to start fresh. Of course – the optimal time to do this is before you paint. But if your inspection shows that new caulk is needed, don’t delay and then paint over it when cured.

For starters, take a sharp tool which will cut out the old caulk and remove it to sound wood or metal. Caulking over existing caulk not only doesn’t look as nice but it can also inadvertently trap moisture behind it.

Once the affected section of caulk is removed, carefully apply new caulk. Use a wet finger or smoothing tool to seal the edges in tightly…less is more and covered is best.

Clean window tracks!

We often get comments on how helpful our instructions are for cleaning window tracks. And, nothing feels as clean and fresh as a scrubbed up, bug-free window track; besides it is also a sign of a window that will drain properly through the irrigation channels hidden inside and under the track.

So, here’s how you do it:  First open your vinyl or aluminum openable window all the way. Then lift the moving portion of the window completely out. Now you can take a putty knife and pop out the lower track so that it exposes the window frame. Yes, it does come out! Just lift the movable portion and clean. (Take note of how it was sitting in the window frame first so you’ll know which end to put where when you put it back together!)

Now, just clean the part you removed and clean and dry the area underneath the track. When the underneath and the track itself are clean and bug free, just place the window track back in, followed by the window. Wow, that feels good doesn’t it!

   .

  Are any gutter nails sticking out or any wood fascia or varge hanging loose? A few more leaves or a quick, wet snow load could bring a loose gutter or rotted boards down onto your head. Now would be the time to fix them, even if it means calling in an expert.

   When maintained, they should last the life of your house. However, take a look to make sure they’re still firmly in place and well painted.

Roofs

   We are out of space to talk about roofs, but remember these three key things. First, warm summer day always beat a stormy winter night to discover if your roof needs repair! Second, precautions such as a ladder stand-off and extra awareness of your surroundings is critical on the roof. Third, often hiring a roof expert or handyman to inspect your roof is well worth the money.

Eric Bjella is the executive director of NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor, where Pat Beaty is the construction manager. This is a nonprofit organization committed to creating safe and affordable housing opportunities for all residents of Grays Harbor County. For questions about home repair, housing counseling for renters and landlords, homebuyer education and financing, call 360-533-7828. Our office, 710 E. Market Street, is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Monday – Thursday.