Freeze-thaw cycles, wind-driven snow and salt air all take a toll on Island homes. Most of the damage from winter is small in April and expensive by August. Working through the list below once a year keeps repairs in the hundred-dollar range instead of the thousand-dollar range.
Start outside, from the roof down
Walk the perimeter of the house from the ground with a pair of binoculars. You are looking for lifted or missing shingles, loose flashing around chimneys and vents, and any sag in the gutters. Gutter joints separate over the winter because of ice weight, and a separated joint dumps water against the foundation every time it rains.
- Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves, shingle grit and ice damage debris
- Check that downspouts discharge at least 1.5 metres from the foundation
- Look for cracked caulking around windows, doors and siding penetrations
- Check the foundation for new cracks, especially near corners and window wells
Decks, steps and railings
Test every railing by pushing on it firmly. Fasteners loosen as wood swells and shrinks through the winter. Look for soft or spongy boards, popped screws and rusted joist hangers underneath. A deck wash in May removes the green algae film that builds up on the north side and makes boards slippery.
Siding, driveway and walkways
Vinyl and painted siding pick up a grey film through the winter, and salt residue near roads and coastlines speeds up the process. Pressure washing in late spring makes a bigger visual difference than almost any other job, and it lets you see any damage hiding behind the dirt. Concrete walkways should be checked for lifted slabs that create trip hazards.
The lawn and yard
- Rake out matted grass and snow-mould patches before the first cut
- Wait until the ground firms up before mowing — early mowing on wet soil causes ruts
- Cut the first mow high, then lower gradually over the next few cuts
- Clear branches and winter debris from beds before mulching
Inside the house
Change furnace and heat pump filters, test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and check under sinks for slow leaks that started while the house was closed up. Look at ceilings and upper walls for brown staining — that is usually ice damming from January, and the drywall patch is far cheaper than waiting for the paint to blister.
What to hand off
Anything at height, anything involving ladders on soft spring ground, and anything you would need to rent equipment for is usually cheaper to hire out. We handle spring cleanups, pressure washing, deck and railing repairs and drywall patching across Charlottetown, Stratford, Cornwall, Summerside and the surrounding communities.