Summer Maintenance Homeowner Checklist for Portlanders

Hello World!  Welcome Friends!  There is no better time than now to tackle summertime home maintenance tasks. Try to finish these tasks while the weather is warm. Before you get busy with the holidays. Here is our list of things to knock out before it gets

Outdoor Checklist: 13 Outside Maintenance & Upkeep Tasks

When it comes to annual summer maintenance, ’tis the season to get outdoors and break a sweat, depending on your particular home, you may need to address each of the following items or just a few.

When working on your property, especially on a hot day, hydrate before, during, and after.

1. Gutters

With Portland receiving approximately 43 inches of rain annually, your home’s gutters must be clear of debris and functioning as intended.

If the downspout gets blocked with leaves, debris, or anything else, it can create standing water. The water may eventually overflow or seep under the roof and into the foundation.

Also, leaves that clog up your gutter may decay, causing an unpleasant odor if not removed.

2. Power Wash

Also known as pressure washing, an annual power wash in Portland is necessary for many homeowners due to an abundance of mold, algae, and mud build-up on concrete, brickwork, and walls.

Pressure washing can also remove chipping paint, dirt, and debris in grout lines, concrete contraction joints, and gutters, to name a few.

Here’s a list of the most common power-washed fixtures around the home:

• Driveway
• Pathways
• Exterior
• Deck
• Patio
• Siding
• Windows and sills
• Garage floor
• Fences and walls
• Outdoor furniture
• Outdoor kitchen areas
• BBQ grill
• Air conditioning condenser
• Garbage cans

3. Windows

Usually, the outside window collects more dirt and unsightly water stains on its glass. While there are many tactics, tools, and products designed to wash exterior windows, we recommend the following approach:

1. Hose down the windows, then add a few drops of liquid dish soap to a pail of cold water.
2. Use a microfiber cloth to scrub the windows and remove dirt. Many DIY stores carry extension poles for reaching second-story windows.
3. Use your hose or a low setting on a pressure washing machine to rinse thoroughly.

The above process is usually sufficient for most homes. If you want your windows to shine or have stubborn stains, continue with steps four through six below.

1. Use a professional cleaner or vinegar and water mix to give the glass extra protection. Check out a local Winks or Ace Hardware recommendation for the best window cleaning solution.
2. Use a squeegee to dry the window – working from top to bottom while angling the squeegee toward the bottom of the window. Dry the squeegee after each pass with a towel.
3. If tough stains, like bird droppings, persist, saturate entirely with vinegar and water and let the solution rest for a few minutes. If needed, use a non-abrasive sponge to prevent scratching, to dislodge any remaining gunk.

Don’t forget to clean off screens or shutters with your hose or power washer. Allow screens to dry before reinserting them fully.

4.  Spray for Insects

Portland is known for its rain and wet climate, which makes it the ideal place for insects and pests to procreate and thrive. The area is home to various insects, animals, and rodents, which can quickly lead to an infestation.

Before blanketing your yard with potentially harmful chemicals, consider whether your property’s insects are genuinely a nuisance or part of a healthy ecosystem. Be wary of the insecticide’s potential impact on pets or family members.

Portland’s most common vermin:

• Voles
• Mice
• Rats
• Spiders
• Termites
• Cockroaches
• Ants

5. Spray for Weeds

Portland, like just everywhere, is susceptible to weeds – many of which are invasive species.

Here are the weeds that grow most often in the Pacific Northwest:

• Blackberries (invasive)
• Yellow Archangel
• Old Man’s Beard (invasive)
• Lesser Celandine (invasive)
• Garlic Mustard (invasive)
• Hogweed (invasive)
• American Pokeweed (invasive)
• English and Irish Ivy
• Spurge Laurel
• Water Primrose (invasive)

When spraying, do so when the weather is suitable – on a low wind day. Rainwater runoff can cause the herbicide to travel into surrounding flower beds or other locations where it will kill plants, so be mindful.

Carefully spray and target just the weeds you wish to remove.

Wear personal protective gear, particularly safety glasses and gloves. Pants and shoes will help protect your legs and feet.

After spraying, avoid bringing clothing and gear into the home before washing thoroughly to prevent contact with glyphosate and other potentially harmful chemicals.

6. Trimming & Pruning

The optimal time to prune trees is during their dormant season, which, in Oregon, typically lasts from late winter to early spring. Branches that are dead, diseased, or simply large and potentially hazardous should be cut off as soon as possible.

To make quick work of your yard’s plants, you’ll want to have most of these tools at your disposal:

• Pruning shears
• Lopper
• Pruning saw
• Hedge shears
• Pole pruner

You’ll also want to prevent as many trees, bushes, and other plants as possible from touching the house. Not only can plants cause structural damage, but insects and rodents use them as superhighways to access your home’s interior.

7. Lawn Edging & Trimming

The large majority of homes in the Portland area have bright green blades of grass in their yards – much in thanks to the region’s persistent rain. If your lawn looks tidy, you may want to spend some time edging.

Edging involves making a physical cut on the grass. This “edge” creates a break between the grass and its borders – driveways, sidewalks, and flower beds, for example.

Trimming is cutting grass in areas your lawn mower cannot reach, such as against a wall or fence. To correctly edge or trim a lawn, you should have the proper tools. There are various manual and power tools specifically designed for the task.

Check your local hardware store, where they’re sure to have a variety of grass edging and trimming tools to help you get the job done fast and with the least effort.

8. Air Conditioner

Regarding outdoor A/C maintenance, we’re generally only speaking of the unit’s condenser (the large steel box on the side of your home that contains a fan).

If you’re uncomfortable with switching off the condenser’s power and removing a few access screws, stop here and contact your local HVAC professional.

Otherwise, grab your screwdriver, head to the unit, and start by switching the power off – typically, the condenser has its power switch beside it. Still, you should also turn off the power at the breaker box.

You can either unscrew the fan or open the side of the box to access the interior.

If there are a lot of leaves or pine needles lodged in the machine, use a shop vac to suck the bulk of it out. Then spray the unit with a hose or power washing wand before replacing the fan/siding.

9. Paint

If you want to tackle a total repaint of your house, it is the right time of year. However, touching up chipped paint, scratched siding, or stained facia boards can often be enough to transform your property’s curb appeal.

If you’re unsure of the paint color you need for your property, look for information about your home from the homebuilder or previous homeowner. If you can’t find anything, take small samples from a concealed area to the paint store. They can match the paint color for you.

Before painting, clean and dry the area you intend to touch up.

Depending on the extent of paint work you want to accomplish, you may need one or more of these tools:

• 4-inch paint brush
• Roller and tray
• Ladder
• Drop cloth
• Putty knife (multipurpose tool)
• Paint sprayer

10. Roofing

Due to Portland’s weather, homeowners’ roofs take a lot of abuse. Which, if left unattended, may lead to structural damage and, eventually, water leaking into the house.

It’s not uncommon for roofs in the area to have:

• Missing or damaged shingles
• Snow and ice damage
• Tree damage
• Age-related issues (roofs don’t last forever)

Be sure you are extremely careful if you decide to DIY your roof. Suppose you’re handy and can reach your roof safely to replace the odd shingle. In that case, you can extend your roof’s life.

However, professionals should repair extensive roofing damage from a tree or cold weather.

11. Fencing/Walls

As mentioned, Portland properties are excellent breeding grounds for mold and moss. This fact holds especially true in areas of fences and walls hidden from sunlight. Address this issue by power washing the affected areas.

Replace or repair broken fence pickets, posts, and rails. Replace broken blocks in concrete walls and seal any holes or gaps between the blocks with a sealant.

Please take note of anything that looks like it could become an issue, so you can check it often.

12. BBQ Grill

If you’re the type that packs the grill away for winter, you should do the following maintenance tasks at least once a year. If you grill all year-round, you may want to conduct maintenance on it twice a year.

Here are the steps for cleaning propane BBQs:

1. Please take out the grates and soak them in hot, soapy water.
2. Please take out the heat barriers and soak them too.
3. Clean the inside of the grill with a wire brush – removing debris but leaving a protective layer of grease.
4. Start the grill long enough to see if the flames come out evenly from the burners.

The burners need cleaning if the flames aren’t coming out at the same rate.

To do this, take the burners off the grill that aren’t working and push a pipe cleaner or small wire brush through the ports.

Check the evenness of the burners’ flow rate again and repeat this step if necessary.

1. Clean out the grease drip pan or replace it with a new one.
2. While the grates and barriers are soaking, close the lid and wash down the outside.

Use a hose, a large sponge, and soapy water, or if you have a power washer, use it on a low setting.

1. Scrub the grill’s grates and barriers with your wire brush, then put them back in.
2. Start the grill and let it heat up so all the parts inside can dry.

Snugly shut the gas valve and disconnect the hose from the grill unit for those packing away their grills for the season. Remove the propane tank from the grill and place it safely with good airflow. Finally, cover the grill and store it so it won’t get wet.

13. Nooks & Crannies

There are several good reasons to ensure gaps in siding and cracks in doors and windows. Perhaps most importantly, when a home is sealed correctly, it reduces energy and keeps critters from crawling in the areas.

Two straightforward and efficient methods for air sealing are caulking and weatherstripping, which can quickly pay for themselves in energy bill savings in less than a year.

Weatherstripping is a form of insulation used to seal moving parts, such as doors and operable windows. In contrast, use caulk and spray foam for gaps and holes around door and window frames.

Knowing how bugs make their way into your home is the first step to stopping them.

Here are the areas of your home that you should make sure are inaccessible to insects and rodents:

• Doors
• Windows
• Siding and stucco
• Exhaust fans
• Dryer vents
• Wall passages – cable inlets, A/C attachments, etc.

Final Thoughts

We’ve attempted to list home maintenance tasks that most Portland residents should do each summer. We appreciate that not everyone’s property or house construction is the same. Because your home is unique, you should walk your property and look for items not listed above. For example, sheds, playground equipment, and artificial grass should be regularly cleaned and inspected for damage.

If you reside outside of Portland or the Pacific Northwest, assess how weather conditions, fauna, insects, etc., affect your property and create a maintenance plan for your home.

Click the links below for any posts you have missed:

7 Things You Absolutely Need to Know About Buying a Home

Creative Ways You Can Showcase Your Hobbies and Interests at Home

How to Prep Yourself and Your House Before Checking Into Rehab

Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Filtration System

4 Ways to Add Mediterranean Grace to Your Home

Why Should You Care About Your HVAC System?

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Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world!  Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!

Toodles,