Pre-Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Even though spring is less than a month away, there are two critical tasks that you can do around your home this month to prepare for the upcoming season—cleaning your gutters and siding. As soon as you start to feel some milder temperatures come in, you get started on these items on your spring to-do list. The sooner, the better is the name of the game, especially if you need to solicit help from local home exterior cleaning companies or contractors.

Need help with pre-spring home maintenance in Maryland or the DC area? Call KEVCO at (301) 258-9750 or contact us online today.

Gutter Cleaning

Throughout the winter, many people neglect to clean out their home’s gutters. Often the debris in gutters freezes, trapping remaining water in the gutters. Once the big thaw of spring is upon us, there’s the possibility that damage to your home will result.

Overflowing water from the gutters can also damage the paint and siding on a home. Unsightly water marks down the side of your house pale in comparison with what happens if the water gets inside of a wall. The result is drywall damage, flooded basements, and cracked foundations.

Clogged gutters can cause fascia boards to rot, which makes it easier for water to enter homes and cause wall and ceiling damage. The best solution is to have your gutters and downspouts cleaned out by a professional to minimize the risk of damage to your home. They have the expertise and the ladder and safety training necessary to clean all the gutters and thus minimize the homeowner’s risks.

Turn to the experts at KEVCO to schedule a thorough gutter cleaning for your home. Contact us today!

Siding Cleaning

Vinyl siding is a durable, versatile, and resilient building material, but it does require some routine care and cleaning. You’ve probably noticed it on your vinyl siding—green and black mold and mildew growing everywhere on the shady side of your home. It doesn’t exactly enhance curb appeal, but there’s an easy solution. You can schedule professional cleaning of your home’s vinyl siding with pressure cleaning.  

The growing popularity of vinyl siding is indisputable. In fact, statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that vinyl siding has been the leading exterior covering in homes in the U.S. since 1995. Plus, its popularity shows no sign of waning—in 2011, 33% of new single-family homes sold in the U.S. were sided in the material. Still, that doesn’t mean homeowners know how to clean vinyl siding—and keep it clean.

Types of Dirt & Debris Commonly Found on Siding

Because it is an exterior product, vinyl siding can accumulate a host of dirt, grime, and stains on account of things like pollen, bird and insect droppings, spider webs, and rust. In shady, moist areas, mold and mildew can grow, and vinyl is also vulnerable to discoloring effects from insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. In addition, vinyl siding’s finish may be marred by several commonly used household maintenance products, including caulking, driveway sealant, tar, motor oil, and paint. There are several pieces of equipment that professionals have that the homeowner will not have, including:

• A professional pressure-cleaning machine (commercial grade)
• Special equipment nozzles to project the water from the machine
• Biodegradable chemicals if needed (commercial grade)
• Ladder safety and training for large sectional ladders

After an evaluation of your vinyl siding is done, the contractor will be able to determine if the siding has mold or mildew on it and exactly how to remove it. Your KEVCO contractor will also determine whether they will even need ladders to reach the debris on the siding. Many times, with the proper equipment (such as a pressure-cleaning machine with variable nozzles), a contractor can tackle stains with both feet on the ground. In some instances, a ladder will be needed, but there always needs to be an additional person on the ground to “spot” the person on the ladder to reduce accidents. If stains are stubborn, biodegradable chemicals can be used in addition to higher-pressure water. Lastly, your contractor should always spray down landscaping with water to reduce the chance of damage to plants.

Contact KEVCO for residential siding cleaning throughout Maryland and Washington, DC.

Choose KEVCO for Home Maintenance Services

An excellent place to get started, gutter cleaning and siding cleaning will brighten your home in the weeks and months to come. But always at the top of the exterior maintenance “to do” list, hiring a professional contractor is the way to go. They have the knowledge, training, and tools of the trade to get the job done at peak efficiency!

Contact KEVCO today for gutter cleaning and siding cleaning services in the DC metro area. We also offer commercial pressure washing services!