People often get so caught up in their daily routine that they don’t notice worn out, old, dirty, overgrown, or broken items that are right in front of them. Neglecting your property negatively impacts not only your home, but on the aesthetic of the entire neighborhood. Here are some often overlooked Los Angeles exterior home maintenance checklist items to do to help your home look its best:
Remove Dead and Diseased Trees
One of the most unsightly items that affect curb appeal are dead, partially dead, and diseased trees on a property. To keep your home looking its best, remove trees, stumps, or other items that detract from the look of your yard. Furthermore, by dedicating a few minutes each week to checking around your house, you’ll spot issues before they become unsightly problems and ensure that your property always looks its best.
Fruit Tree Branches on Roof
Do you have fruit trees near your structure? Keep the branches off and away from the roof. Fruit trees growing over a roof can create multiple problems. The tree itself allows critters access to your roof, the rotting fruit attracts flies and larger pests, like rats and racoons. Additionally, the fruit and leaf debris buildup can clog downspouts, preventing water from draining away from the roof.
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Sprinkler Damaging House
Check the spray direction of sprinkler heads that are near your house. Pictured here is stucco damage caused by a misdirected sprinkler head. Prioritize checking sprinklers behind shrubs because the damage is often hidden by the plants. Sprinklers should never be allowed hit a structure as the repeated watering disintegrates stucco, cement or wood siding over time. Moreover, make sure to have the correct heads and nozzles on your sprinklers. Have your gardener check sprinklers near the house monthly.
Deadheading Garden Flowers
Another way to improve the look of your front and back yard is by deadheading garden flowers. Deadheading is the term used for removing dead or faded blooms from plants. It improves the plant’s health and overall appearance. Pictured here is a camellia bush with dry blooms.
Clean Under the Motor Gear Cover
An automatic gate is an essential component of a Los Angeles home security system, providing convenience and protection. To ensure smooth operation and longevity, keep the motor area under the plastic cover free of leaf build-up. Here are the benefits of security gate motor cleaning and maintaining a debris-free gate motor:
Leaf build-up under the plastic cover can hinder the proper functioning of the gate motor. Leaves and debris will interfere with the motor’s moving parts, causing it to jam or operate less efficiently. Keep it clean to avoid costly repairs and ensure that your gate operates smoothly and reliably.
Additionally, accumulated leaves and debris provide a breeding ground for pests and can also lead to motor corrosion and deterioration over time. By preventing leaf build-up, you protect the motor and extend its lifespan.
Keeping your entry gate motor free of leaf build-up saves money in the long run. Regular maintenance and cleaning prevent costly repairs or motor replacements. Moreover, it avoids potential circuit board replacement and the associated expenses.
Toadstools On Your Property
These toadstool colonies grew out of abandoned tree stumps next to this house. Based on the size of these colonies, it’s been a while since this side of the house was visited by anyone who cared about the property. Additionally, the soil level (called grade) is too high against the stucco. Raised soil holds moisture against the structure and can also cause fungus growth inside the walls.
A toadstool is the spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on something rotting. Toadstools are poisonous to humans. Here is a photo of spore containing toadstools next to an air conditioning compressor.
Toadstools have roots. Remove the toadstool and its underground roots. Make sure to dig them out carefully so the spores don’t spread and you get more toadstools.
Clean Exterior Lights
An often overlooked house cleaning detail is exterior porch lights. Keep your exterior looking sharp by regularly removing dust and cobwebs from your light fixtures. It’s small details like these that most people don’t notice, but they sense, that makes a house look really sharp. Notice the glass needs cleaning, the fixture is covered with dust, and the white wood siding behind the fixture needs to be cleaned.
Old Satellite Dish
Rusty satellite dishes are unsightly and give your house a run down look. Installing a new satellite dish will enhance the beauty of your home. Recycle the old dish at an e-waste recycling facility.
These are some Home Maintenance Checklist Items performed by All Los Angeles Painting Company, Inc. 310-470-9218 from its proprietary home maintenance checklist.
