Ontario puts houses through a tough cycle every year. Hard winters, wet springs, hot and humid summers and dry falls each come with their own maintenance jobs. The homes that hold up best belong to owners who stay a step ahead of the seasons.
This seasonal maintenance guide is built around the conditions we actually get in Ontario.
How Ontario's Climate Affects Your Home
Freeze-thaw is the most destructive thing an Ontario home goes through. Water expands 9% when it freezes. When that happens inside foundation cracks, behind siding or in the roof assembly, the damage adds up year after year.
Keeping up with seasonal maintenance cuts repair costs dramatically over the life of a house.
Spring: Assess and Repair
Spring is when you find out what the winter did. Once the snow melts, walk around the property and look for these.
- Frost heave in walkways, steps and patios
- Foundation cracks that are new, or that got wider over the winter
- Shingles that ice dams lifted or tore off
- Fascia or soffit damaged by ice or animals
- Eavestroughs that are damaged, pulling apart or sagging
- Deck damage. Check the boards, fasteners and post bases, and where the ledger attaches to the house.
Summer: Protect and Preserve
Summer is the best time of year for exterior work. Conditions are dry, the days are long, and it stays above freezing so caulk and sealant can cure properly.
- Stain or seal the deck if it's due (every 2 to 3 years)
- Caulk around exterior penetrations, window frames and door frames
- Touch up exterior paint on the spots that take the most moisture
- Check fence posts and gates, and fix what needs fixing
- Clean the dryer vent and make sure the flap outside opens and closes freely
Fall: Winterize
Fall is the maintenance window you really can't skip. Get these done before the ground freezes.
- Shut off and drain the outside hose bibs (October)
- Clear leaves out of the eavestroughs before they freeze. This one isn't optional.
- Check attic insulation and ventilation to head off ice dams
- Get the furnace serviced and change the filter
- Check the weatherstripping on every exterior door and replace any that's worn
- Seal the gaps around utility penetrations
- Test the sump pump before the late-fall rains
Winter: Monitor
Winter is mostly about watching for trouble and reacting to it, not doing big jobs.
- Watch the roof edges for ice dams, especially when heavy snow is followed by a cold snap
- During thaws, check basement walls for any new moisture coming in
- Change the furnace filter every 3 months
- Keep an eye on plumbing near exterior walls when it gets extremely cold
Owner of Handy Man And Home Repairs. 16 years in construction, 15 of them as a Home Inspector. Works across Durham Region, Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland.