Spring at Home: Refreshing the Beauty and Checking What Winter May Have Left Behind

Well, Spring is “Springing” and it has a way of changing how we see our homes.

The windows open a little wider. The light lingers longer in the evenings. Suddenly we notice the rooms around us again. After the gray of winter, there’s an energy that makes us want to refresh things—open the windows, and breathe a little new life into our spaces.

Spring is often the season when people start thinking about refreshing their homes.

Fresh flowers on the table and/or in the garden.
Lighter, breezier fabrics and paint colors.
Maybe finally replacing that lamp we’ve been pretending we still like, or even more appropriate, the lampshade we have been side-eyeing.

But spring is also when we should take a moment to check on the things that keep our house standing.

While we immediately think of refreshing the beautiful parts everyone notices, winter may have been testing the practical ones.

A beautiful home encompasses well designed rooms AND consistent maintenance of the unseen. This post will help you navigate the behind the scenes part of your home.

Start at the Top: The Roof

Winter storms, melting snow, and spring rain can all reveal small issues in a roof that went unnoticed during colder months.

Ideally, it’s far better to notice a small issue on a sunny afternoon than during a thunderstorm when you suddenly realize water is making its way inside. However, reality is that you will not noticed the serious leaks until a spring storm dumps.. I mean refreshes the ground. A handy dandy moisture meter gadget like this one will help. Make sure you take a picture of the reading and a picture of the area of concern, then add it into your notes app along with time of reading and date. Keeping a log while you wait for the roof inspection will help validate the issues you are having.

Gutters and Drainage

Gutters do an enormous job protecting a home.

After winter, they can easily become filled with leaves or debris. When gutters clog, water begins spilling where it shouldn’t—often down walls or around the foundation.

A quick cleaning ensures rainwater flows away from the house instead of finding its way inside. If you live in an area that becomes a leaf pile haven, consider adding screens to your gutters (I do not own these screens but I wish we had when we were living in Houston). They help tremendously with leaf clogs. Make sure you do your research and choose the best products for your region.

Exterior Brick and Mortar

Winter’s freeze-and-thaw cycles can be tough on masonry.

Temperature changes often cause small cracks in mortar between bricks or stone. These gaps may look minor, but they create an easy path for water to enter.

Catching these early and fixing them quickly will keep moisture from becoming a bigger issue later. Your wallet will thank you.

Windows, Doors, and Water

Spring rain can reveal weaknesses around windows and doors.

Check the caulking and seals around these areas. Even small gaps can allow water to sneak inside during heavy rainstorms. Side-note: we see a lot of “mass build” new builds with this issue. If you have purchased a new build home, be hyper vigilant the first year.

A simple reseal is an easy way to prevent future damage.

Here’s another reason to own a small moisture reader and keep it on hand to check areas where water might collect unnoticed.

Preparing for Texas Summers

Here in North Texas, spring also signals something else on the horizon: heat and drought.

When soil dries out during the summer, it can pull away from the foundation of a home. That movement sometimes leads to cracks or shifting. You may not even realize it’s happening until you notice cracks in the ceiling and walls. We have been on the job site for initial consults and I have stopped the conversation when I noticed out of the ordinary settling occurring. Sometimes, it’s just that – a houses settling but other times it’s foundation issues and we have to address those first BEFORE we can talk about all the pretty.

and yes, I know what you are thinking… it DOES eat into the project budge and we have had to wait on remodels/refreshes because the budget can not handle both. As your friend, put the foundation fixes first and wait if you have to on the design. The pretty won’t be pretty for long because you will have to address the main issues eventually and the project can cost 2 to 4 times more in the long run.

It’s not glamorous work, but it protects one of the most important parts of a house.

The Beauty and the Responsibility of Home

I often tell clients that creating a beautiful home is only part of the story.

Caring for it is the other half.

Homes hold the rhythms of everyday life—family dinners, celebrations and the calm and chaotic day to day.

Spring is a wonderful time to refresh the beauty of a home.

But it’s also the season to walk the perimeter, look up at the roof, check the mortar, and make sure the structure protecting your life and the lives of those you love is ready for the seasons ahead.

When we care for our homes well, they continue doing what they were meant to do.

They shelter our lives. They allow us to create the memories.

And when these abodes are allowed to do their jobs fully, well that’s when the house becomes a home.

Download my quick reference list for your home binder:

There is a quote that I know you know. “Beauty may be only skin deep but ugly goes straight to the bone.” It’s used to describe the character of some people but it can also be used to describe your home. Your home may have all the beauty that you and the people who walk through the front door love. Everything can be perfectly placed , magazine ready, and tell the story of “you” BUT if you neglect the bones, the foundation, the very structure of your home by ignoring home maintenance…it won’t be long until your home becomes ugly at it’s core. Mold, wood rot, termite, water, and foundation damage to name a few of the culprits that steal away and destroy all you have worked so very hard for.