Now a believer? Here's a list of your most-important maintenance jobs and when
to do them:
Yearly
1. Caulk windows and trim.
In the fall, before it rains (caulk won't stick to moist
surfaces), look for cracks in the trim
around the windows and siding of your
house. Also inspect the corners where
trim comes together. Fill cracks with
caulk. Polyurethane caulk is best, say
home maintenance experts James and
Morris Carey, at their Web site,
. Polyurethane is more
expensive but it is easier to use; you can
paint over it; and it lasts three or four
times longer than latex caulk. Before
caulking cracks that are wider than an
eighth of an inch or deeper than a half-
inch, stuff in flexible foam backer rod
(available at hardware stores). Push the
foam in with a putty knife, then caulk.
2. Inspect your crawl space for water.
Do this every fall, about 30 days after
the fall rain begins so that if water collects, you'll see it, Juneau says. Find the
crawl-space opening by walking around the outside of your house. Look for a
trapdoor or a boarded opening in the foundation. Wearing old clothes and
carrying a flashlight, wriggle in there — or hire someone to do it if you're
claustrophobic — and shine the light around to spot any accumulated water. If
you find water, call a home inspector to figure out where it's coming from and
why.
3. Check wooden decks for moisture.
Wooden decks should be continually
protected from water with a deck treatment or wood stain. (Synthetic decking
products needs no treatment and should not be stained.) "Not even redwood,
cedar or pressure-treated wood will stand up forever," says the "
." In
dry, warm weather, borrow a moisture meter from a paint store to test if water
has penetrated your decking, signaling that treatment is needed. Paint-store
personnel can show you how to use the simple meter. Depending on your
weather and your deck's exposure, it may need to be refinished every two years
or even yearly. Paint professionals can help you choose among the treatment
options.