Spring Outdoor Living Clean Up
Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2018
By:
Sequoia Supply
Categories:
Outdoor Living
It’s no secret that cold winters can be cruel and damaging to man, animal, and material. Especially here in the Northeast where the amount of salt spread on roadways can seemingly exceed the depth of snowfall in some years when sleet and freezing rain represent the predominant precipitation.
The damage from salt, freeze and thaw, wind, snow blowers, plows, shovels, and excessive moisture can create costly damage to your driveway, sidewalks, yard, foliage, deck, and outdoor living amenities like fire pits, fireplaces, kitchens, grilles, landscape lighting and more.
As soon as the frost clears, it’s important for homeowners to spend a weekend outside cleaning up, inspecting, repairing, replacing, and readying your outdoor living space for spring and summer enjoyment. Not only will this routine maintenance prolong the life of your belongings, it will ensure that your family and friends have a safe refuge to enjoy hours of entertainment together.
Here are 10 tips to repairing and readying your outdoor oasis for spring:- Patch potholes and fill cracks in asphalt driveway. Clean the area to be repaired of any loose material or debris. It isn’t necessary to remove all dirt and dust from the hole, but make sure you take out any large objects and remove most of the loose material. Water is not a problem, it will be displaced by the asphalt patch. Fill smaller cracks with liquid crack filler.
- Repair cracks in concrete sidewalks and patios. Use a quality masonry crack filler to seal, waterproof and repair cracks and mortar joints in concrete sidewalks, walls, steps, and floors. Follow manufacturer’s instructions and make sure you have the correct material based on the size and location of the repair. For small to moderate cracks, a latex-based product in a caulk tube is quick and easy. Large repairs can be made with ready-mix product from a small bucket container.
- Replace damaged weatherstrip on entry doors and garage doors. Moving shovels, snow blowers, and other through garage and home entry doors can damage weatherstripping. Inspect and replace any that is damaged to ensure a tight seal.
- Trim damaged branches on trees and shrubs. Cut small damaged branches from trees and shrubs, taking care not to damage the tree. If you’re trimming heavy tree limbs, you have to be extra careful not to damage the bark or interfere with the tree’s natural healing response. Doing it right is actually no more difficult than doing it wrong, particularly if you think ahead to how much work it would take to remove a dead tree! Consult a professional landscaper or tree expert if necessary.
- Cleanup fallen branches and other debris. Clean up fallen branches and debris that will damage your mower. Inspect your yard for heaved or settled ground (sink holes) that may have occurred through the freeze and thaw, and repair as required.
- Inspect deck for corroded, rusted and loose fasteners. Make sure railing is firm and secure. Crawl underneath your deck and inspect all hangers and fasteners for loose and / or corroded fasteners. Repair and replace anything that is not in great condition. Most deck failures happen because fasteners fail!
- Have septic tanks cleaned and inspected. If you have a septic system, schedule for a professional to come out and pump it. While there, ask that they also inspect the tank for any damage that may have occurred and let you know if repairs are required.
- Change furnace / air-conditioning filters. Central air heating and cooling systems should have filters replaced regularly to ensure quality air flow and that the system doesn’t have to work so hard to move the air. This will prolong the life of the system and provide quality comfort both winter and summer.
- Repair and replace damaged landscape and deck lighting. Landscape and deck lighting can be damaged from snow, ice, shovels, snow blowers and more. Turn on the lights and do a walk around to inspect for damage. Repair or replace
- Clean, inspect and repair outdoor fire pits, fireplaces, kitchens and grille. Inspect all hardscaping for damage including dislodged blocks or bricks from walls and patios. Inspect and clean your fire pits, fireplaces, and cooking appliances as needed.
Tagged:Outdoor Kitchens, Fire Pits, Hardscaping, Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor Bars, Grilling Stations, Fire Tables, Hardscape Patio, Decks, Spring Cleanup