House Maintenance for Exterior Caulking & Stain
Routine maintenance is a must for every homeowner. Knowing what to look for when undergoing a DIY home improvement project is half of the work. Download the handy checklist below to help you determine your caulking and exterior stain maintenance needs.
Tools You’ll Need:
- Blue Painters Tape:Ā Use this to mark areas needing maintenance during the inspection, then easily relocate them when itās time to perform the maintenance.
- Binoculars:Ā Save yourself a trip up the ladder and use binoculars to do a quick inspection of your roof and other items high up.
- Ladder:Ā Pull this out for hard-to-reach areas needing maintenance, and only after doing the inspection with the binoculars.
- Digital Camera:Ā Take pictures of places where you have questions. (A phone camera also works great.)
- Rough Sketch:Ā Make a rough sketch of your homeās exterior. Mark on the sketch what work is needed and where.
- Sashco’s Exterior Maintenance Checklist: (Download a printable version here.) Make sure you check from chimney to foundation.
Here’s what to look for:
ChimneyĀ
- Loose or cracked mortar or flue pipe
- Plants growing inside or out (sign of moisture infiltration)
- Birds nests (contact local animal control before removing anything)
- Efflorescence (white, powdery stains; sign of moisture infiltration)
- Loose or warped flashing between chimney and roof
Roof
- Loose, shifting, cracked shingles, shakes or tiles
- Clogged or leaky gutters/downspouts
- Birds nests (contact local animal control before removing anything)
- Efflorescence (white, powdery stains; sign of moisture infiltration)
- Loose or warped flashing between chimney and roof
Contact a professional roofer if youāre not sure of the extent of any damage.Ā Visit sashco-current.local for additional resources.
Walls
- Cracked caulk joints in siding
- Checks/cracks in wood siding, popped knots in wood
- Cracks in stucco
- Cracked/loose mortar in brick, efflorescence
- Faded, peeling or damaged stain or paint
- Leaks in gutters and nearby wall for damage (peeling paint, mold, etc.)
- Joints around spigots, vents, other protrusions
- Cracked caulk around windows and doors
- Missing or damaged weather stripping around windows and doors
Foundation
- Cracks
- Efflorescence
- Seal between spigots, vents and other protrusions
Contact a professional if youāre not sure of the extent of any damage.Ā VisitĀ sashco-current.localĀ for additional resources.
Walkways
- Deck stain wear
- Popped nails or fasteners
- Concrete cracks in driveway, sidewalk, patios, etc.
- Pot holes or concrete spalling
Keep in mind: this list is not exhaustive. If youāre in need of a more extensive review, contact a professional in your area. Download a printable checklist here.
Ā Related articles
- Efflorescence and How-To Remove It (sashcoinc.wordpress.com)
- Caulking 101: Keys to Success (sashcoinc.wordpress.com)