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: Use this to mark areas needing maintenance during the inspection, then easily relocate them when it’s time to perform the maintenance.
Binoculars: Save yourself a trip up the ladder and use binoculars to do a quick inspection of your roof and other items high up.
Ladder: Pull this out for hard-to-reach areas needing maintenance, and only after doing the inspection with the binoculars.
Digital Camera: Take pictures of places where you have questions. (A phone camera also works great.)
Rough Sketch: Make a rough sketch of your home’s 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:

Chimney

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 you’re not sure of the extent of any damage. 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 you’re not sure of the extent of any damage. Visit sashco-current.local 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 you’re in need of a more extensive review, contact a professional in your area. Download a printable checklist here.