The Ultimate Home Maintenance Guide – Part 2 of 7 – External Maintenance

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If you’ve just bought your first home, sooner or later the question will dawn on you…what do I have to do to maintain it? Or perhaps you’re a long-time home owner and have been blindsided by expensive repairs. Even the wisest among us has been guilty of underestimating the cost of home maintenance and repairs. The changing weather conditions of our amazing location in central Ontario present a variety of challenges you want to stay on top of as the seasons change.

In this seven-part series, we have been laying out the ultimate home maintenance guide (Romana King, Money Sense). Use this guide and feel confident that you have done everything possible to keep your house in top condition, avoid larger costs that result from poor maintenance, and have a budget plan in place so you’re not caught off guard by expensive repairs.

In the second installment of our seven-part series, we will focus on external maintenance.

EXTERNAL MAINTENANCE
Your home’s exterior protects the bones of your home. Keeping it maintained will prevent interior water damage, prevent heat loss, and enhance your home’s curb appeal. Most of these jobs can be done by the most inexperienced handyman which makes this a great opportunity to save you money.

Annually
Replace weather stripping around windows and doors, and replace door sweeps.
Every 1 to 3 years. $150 to $500

Re-caulk foundation seams, fill cracks and holes with epoxy.
Annually as needed. $10 to $35

Powerwash siding and external structures.
Each year. $0 to $200

Lubricate garage door tracks.
Annually. $5

Replace garage extension springs.
Every 7 years. $35

As Necessary
Install new vinyl windows.
Every 10 years. $4,500 to $12,000 for about 10 windows.

Replace external doors.
Every 15 years. $2,400 to $4,500 for 3 doors.

Replace garage door.
Every 10 to 15 years. $650 to $2,000

Replace vinyl siding
Every 20 to 40 years. $3,000 to $12,000 for 2,000 square foot home.

Repaint or stain wood exterior.
Every 10 years. $3,000

Professionally wash brick exterior.
Every 30 years. $2,000

Rebuild single car garage.
Every 50 years. $15,000

Replace outside tap with antifreeze version.
One-time cost. $30 to $200

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