5 Household Tasks to Tick Off Before Summer Begins
The summer holidays are finally upon us, which hopefully means less time at work and more time at home. The last thing you want to worry about during the holiday season is doing household chores, so we would highly recommend ticking off all your essential home maintenance tasks before summer begins. That way, you can fully relax and enjoy the sunshine when the time comes around.
Here are the top 5 household tasks you should tick off today to guarantee a stress-free summer:
1. Cleaning out the gutters
For many communities around Australia, the beginning of summer marks the beginning of bushfire season. But even if you don’t live in a bushfire-prone region, it’s still wise to reduce fire hazards around your home and property prior to the summer months.
Almost 2,000 Australian homes were damaged during the 2019-20 bushfires. If the 2019-20 bushfires taught us anything, it’s that these types of fires are highly unpredictable and can escalate quickly. That’s why in a country like Australia, it’s essential to reduce all fire hazards around your property during the summer months – even if you think you’re in a safe region.
One of the best ways you can protect your home from fires this summer is by getting your gutters cleared and cleaned. Ember attacks are one of the most common causes of house fires during a bushfire. Embers can travel up to 40 kilometres ahead of the fire front, meaning that they can easily reach homes and properties that are nowhere near the centre of a given fire zone. If an ember happens to land on a clogged gutter, the debris stuck in the gutter can set off a catastrophic fire that will put a property in serious danger within minutes.
Cleaning your gutters regularly can quite literally save lives, so be sure to put this task on your to-do list this spring. Gutter cleaning does take some time, skill, and patience, so you may want to consider calling an on-demand handyman to do the job if you’re short on time.
2. Fixing pergola or deck damage
If you’re lucky enough to have a pergola or deck in your backyard, we’re guessing that you’re counting down the days until you can finally put these outdoor spaces to good use. But before you start taking your outdoor furniture out of storage, make sure that you inspect your pergola or deck for any damage that may have occurred over the winter months.
Since these areas are constantly exposed to the elements, they’re highly susceptible to wind damage, water damage, and mould growth. Left unattended, these issues can turn into serious safety hazards.
Simple tasks such as replacing broken or damaged boards, reinforcing support beams, nailing down raised nails, and sealing timber will go a long way in keeping your pergola or deck safe for use and making it look pristine for your Christmas guests.
3. Patching up walls
For many of us, the summer holidays are synonymous with entertaining at home. The last thing you want to worry about when preparing for a dinner party or hosting a BBQ lunch is fixing up bits and pieces around the house.
It’s normal for walls in a home to get marked, chipped, and scuffed over time. Usually, the damages are minor and can easily be fixed with some know-how. Whether it be touching up a wall with paint or filling in a dent in the wall, these kinds of small fixes can make a huge difference in how your home looks and feels. Ticking off these tasks now will save you a lot of time and stress, and will also ensure that your home is 100% ready for all your holiday guests.
4. Caulking and weatherstripping
Insulation is key to keeping your house cool during the warmer months and warm during the cooler months. To keep your home as efficient as possible this summer, be sure to prevent air leaks from happening. These leaks, even the small ones, can waste hundreds of dollars in energy and utility bills, so we’d definitely recommend getting on top of this task ASAP.
You can prepare your home for the summer months by caulking or weatherstripping every area or fixture in your home that is vulnerable to air leaks. Common places include windows, doors, electrical outlets, and floorboards.
There are two common ways to seal your home to prevent air leaks from occurring. The first method, called caulking, is used to seal non-moving fixtures such as stationary windows and walls. The second method, called weatherstripping, is used to seal moving fixtures such as doors and operable windows. Combined, these two methods can go a long way in preventing heat loss and can reduce your energy bills and carbon emissions by up to 25%!
5. Fixing broken tiles
Not only are broken tiles and floors unsightly, they can also be quite dangerous. The hazards that come along with broken tiles are only heightened during the summer months, during which time there may be more people walking across your floors barefoot. Aside from the safety risks, broken tiles also increase the likelihood of moisture seeping through the cracks, which can later cause some serious structural damage to your home.
Oftentimes, it’s possible to fix a broken tile without having to completely replace it. Depending on the extent of the damage, it’s very likely that your chipped or cracked tiles just need some minor repair work. However, repairing or replacing tiles does take some know-how and time, so make sure that you feel confident to perform the task ahead of you prior to starting it, so that you don’t end up with a botched DIY job!
Rushed for time? Hire a professional handyman to complete your pre-summer home maintenance checklist
If you simply don’t have the time or the energy to complete all your home maintenance tasks this spring, why torture yourself by attempting to do it all on your own? You can make your life so much easier by calling in a professional, on-demand handyman to complete the jobs for you.
At Jim’s Handyman, each and every one of our franchisees are fully insured and police checked, which means that your property will always be placed in the safest of hands. Set yourself up for a stress-free summer by calling in a professional handyman to tick off your essential maintenance tasks.
Get in touch with Jim’s Group today on 131 546 or enquire online to see how we can help.
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