Believe it or not, it won’t be long until the weather warms up and the Spring finally arrives. That’s why we have compiled our Most Recommended Spring Home Maintenance Tips. Crawling out of our winter hibernation, it can be fun to look ahead to home projects that you’ve been meaning to get around to for the last several months.
So when is the best time to tackle a variety of home maintenance chores? We’ve brainstormed the projects you should be prioritizing this Spring and all year long so you’ll know when it’s the most beneficial time to add them to your honey-do list.
Cleaning Your Eavestroughs
The Best Time:
In the early spring after things have thawed out, you may find some winter debris, animal nests and sticks in your eavestroughs. Clean all that out and ensure the eavestroughs are flowing smoothly all summer long. Then do a second clean-out in the late fall after the last leaves have fallen off the trees.
The Worst Time:
There’s no sense in starting this project in early fall if the leaves are still falling. If you’re up on a ladder when cleaning your eavestroughs, make sure to be cautious of wet and slippery ground at this time of year.
Painting The Exterior of Your Home
The Best Time:
Most paint manufacturers recommend waiting until the weather is consistently above 15C (and doesn’t dip below this at night). Obviously choose a day that is dry and rain isn’t expected for the following 48 hours. Late spring and early summer is a great time to get out that paintbrush.
The Worst Time:
If it’s extremely hot (over 30C) and humid, or if it’s expected to rain in the next couple of days, don’t start painting outside. Also, watch for high wind warnings. Strong winds can make working on a ladder really dangerous!
Re-Seeding Your Lawn or Planting Sod
The Best Time:
Ideally, planting your grass seed and sod is best done during cooler weather. Spring and Fall is a great time for this project because the new grass roots aren’t stressed by hot temperatures. Just remember to water every day until you see significant growth.
The Worst Time:
When you try to plant grass seed in the summer, all your watering can go to waste as a lot of it will evaporate. It’s hard for new seed and roots to take hold during these conditions, and you’ll be fighting against weeds that do much better in these hot temperatures.
Planting in the Garden
The Best Time:
In the Ontario climate, savvy gardeners recommend planting bulbs for spring blooming flowers (like tulips and daffodils) about six weeks before the frost on the ground thaws. That ends up being around early April for people in Southwestern Ontario. We recommend Victoria Day weekend as a fairly safe weekend to start planting annuals and new perennials in your gardens. Shrubs and new trees are best planted in cooler weather like early May or mid October so they can properly take root.
The Worst Time:
Even if the spring weather is starting to feel warmer, remember that temperatures can still dip below freezing at night. So avoid the temptation to plant annuals and perennials too early in the season when there’s still a risk of frost. Mid summer is also a sub-optimal time for adding new foliage to your garden as the heat and process of transplanting can add a lot of stress to your plants.
Replacing Your Roofing
The Best Time:
Obviously if your roof needs emergency repairs, then it’s best to get them done immediately regardless of the time of year. But if you’re looking to do a routine replacement of shingles and roof decking, we recommend trying to book in the spring or the fall. This means the roofers aren’t subjected to extreme weather temperatures while working. Some roofers may just be looking to get the job done quickly in these freezing or scorching temperatures and there’s a risk of them rushing the work.
The Worst Time:
Again, the weather can adversely affect how your roof is done. Obviously it’s not ideal to have the shingles taken off and your roof exposed during a particularly wet or snowy season. Talk to your roofing company about their recommendations for doing roofing work, and make sure to keep your eye on the weather forecast.
Inspecting or Fixing Your Fireplace and Chimney
The Best Time:
Contact a fireplace or chimney company in the spring when business is slower for them. They may offer discounted services and get the benefit of time before the cold weather comes back.
The Worst Time:
Fall is the busiest time for chimney and fireplace repairs as the cold weather is starting to return. By avoiding this time of year, you’ll beat the rush and will be enjoying cocoa by the fire while others are scrambling to get the work done.
Paving Your Driveway
The Best Time:
Thankfully, the window of time for driveway paving is nice and big in our climate. Anytime between late spring and early fall, when the ground is fully thawed out is best. You’ll need to wait about 3 days or so before you can drive on the new surface; possibly longer if the temperatures are extremely hot and the asphalt is softer.
The Worst Time:
Be wary of repaving your driveway when it’s still cold & frosty outside. If the ground isn’t fully thawed, new asphalt can actually get lumpy and bumpy as it heaves through the temperature changes. Make sure you’re well past cold weather before getting this done.
While nobody likes a ton of work to do around the house, it just comes with the territory with home ownership. Investing time (and yes, sometimes money) into your home’s regular maintenance will pay off in spades.
By following our recommendations on when to tackle these chores, your family’s largest investment will look great and last a long time to come.
