Nailing It Down

By Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty

School bells have begun ringing in many districts already this week, and will be ringing after Labor Day in the rest of Grays Harbor. Even when you’re an adult it can feel like summer is the shortest season of the year.

However, it isn’t really autumn yet, and we should still have plenty of summer-like weather in the next few weeks.

So, while it’s not quite time for our annual autumn to-do list, today we will give you an idea of the fixes and finishes for your house that are important to tackle this time of year.

A little pruning goes a long way

While we don’t claim to be plant experts, we do talk from time to time about plants, trees and gardening as it intersects with your house.

Although we know that fall isn’t the best time to prune many plants, you still may want to consider some trimming for your house’s sake.

The plants we are concerned about are shrubs or trees that either pose a potential threat to your house in a storm or that are touching your house.

Cut dangerous limbs now

Your trees have been growing the past few months. When was the last time you took a good look at them to see if they might pose a danger in one of our classic, soon-coming Grays Harbor storms?

Beautiful limbs too close to power lines, your house, garage, shop or other structures become an ugly nightmare if they come crashing down in a storm.

Also, it is well known, floodwaters and windstorms can topple a whole tree — particularly an older one, a rotted one, a sick one or one with shallow roots. So, take a look at your situation. Is there any part of any tree that could threaten your house if the weather turns wild? It may seem like a hassle, but it is so much easier to deal with it now.

Remember, safety first! Depending on the size and type of tree you are dealing with, its removal or pruning might require an expert.

Plants touching the siding

Even if you don’t have any potentially dangerous trees, do you have any trees, shrubs, flowers or even grass that have contact with your siding, deck or any part of your house?

Just having plants touching the house encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which will begin consuming your painted siding.

We recommend that foliage of any kind be a good 6 to 12 inches from the house. Air circulation is crucial.

Priorities for summer’s end

The end of summer with its semi-long days and often warm temperatures can be a great time to paint.

Yes, we are talking about painting once again! Having your house painted and caulked truly is one of the best “insurance policies” you can have to keep rot, mold and deterioration at bay.

However, if you’ve painted in the past few years and the house is looking good, don’t jump ahead to the next section yet! A good annual wash with 30-Second Cleaner and a hose will still make a difference.

Ever notice how quickly grime can accumulate on vinyl siding? Guess what? That same dirt, grime and mold is also likely covering your wooden exterior. And that dirt begins to harbor vegetation and mold that, if left alone, can feed on your paint and wooden siding, compromising the integrity of your home and inviting moisture to enter.

For that reason alone, it’s worth it to wash your house. Besides, you’ll be surprised at the marked difference in appearance a good scrub can make. (You don’t realize how dirty it is until you clean it up.)

A good house washing doesn’t need to take long — especially if you make it a two-person job. One of you applies the 30 Second Cleaner with water solution and scrubs lightly with a boat brush on a pole, while the other comes along behind — about 30 seconds later — and flood-rinses it away from the next section. The job is very fast. Rinse off any affected shrubs or plants.

If you don’t particularly like to paint, all the more reason to give your house regular scrubs — it will extend the life of your paint job, saving you time, money and hassle.

Time for some gutter talk

So, while you are washing or painting your house and the ladder is out, it is also a good time to inspect your gutters. And, frankly, if you are not planning to wash or paint your house it’s worth it to get the ladder out and inspect the gutters anyway.

Again, think safety first! This begins with placing the legs of the ladder with stability in mind. If the ground is soft, put a piece of plywood underneath to ensure the legs won’t sink into the soil.

If you are using any kind of extension-type ladder, always use a stand-off at the top of the ladder. (You can even borrow one from us.)

Then check to make sure your gutters are still securely connected to the roof. Sometimes the fasteners lose their hold and need to be moved over and resecured, or redone with a larger or longer fastener.

Next, we recommend screens for your gutter. It’s one surefire way to keep leaves from piling up in the gutters, which causes plugging and overflowing. The screening, which is simply a metal or plastic mesh, can be bought at home improvement stores — just ask for gutter guards.

Once you have it, install it so that one side is tucked under the edge of the roof and the other is held in place by gravity or screws at the outer edge of the gutter. This keeps it in securely, but allows you to remove it when you want to clean out the dirt, grime and little stuff that slips through into the gutter and accumulates over time.

Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty are construction specialists at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County, where Murnen is executive director. This is a nonprofit organization committed to creating safe and affordable housing for all residents of Grays Harbor County. For questions about home repair, renting, remodeling or buying, call 360-533-7828 or visit 710 E. Market St. in Aberdeen. Our office is fully ADA-compliant.