When you are a homeowner, taking care of your home inside and out is important. While most homeowners tend to focus a majority of their time and attention on inside upkeep, exterior care and prevention is equally, if not more, important, and applies to both older and newer homes. Here are some helpful tips from our Inland Northwest Customer Service Department at Hayden Homes!
Check for Exterior Damage
If you’re like most people, and it’s been awhile since you visually inspected the exterior of your home, start by checking for any damage to your roof, gutters, siding, and more. Checking for things like missing shingles, warped and weathered siding, and loose or leaky gutters is a good place to start. If you have an older home, damage is more common, especially in homes that are 20+ years old.
Areas on the outside of your home to inspect include:

• Windows and doors
• Sidewalks and driveway
• Roof and overhangs
• Garage doors
• Gutters and drains
• Irrigation systems
• Decks and porches
• Siding
• Foundation

If you do notice any damage on the exterior of your home, you should take action to repair or correct it as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the worse things can get, and the more costly a repair may be down the road. For example, if you catch your siding starting to show early signs of water damage due to worn paint, a simple caulk/repaint job may do. However, if your wood siding warps beyond repair, you may need to pay the expense of replacing the siding.
Whether you decide to tackle the repair yourself, or hire a local contractor, it’s important that the job is done well, and that it will last. You may need to refer to local codes and regulations before undertaking a project, as well as checking whether your repair will be covered by insurance, keeping in mind that a bad repair job may decrease the value of your home.
Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance
If you don’t notice any damage, then preventative maintenance to reduce the risk of exterior damage in the future is important. The old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” applies here. This might include simple procedures such as:

• Replacing weather stripping on windows and doors
• De-junking the gutters
• Cleaning siding
• Adjusting sprinklers
• Caulking/Repainting
• Checking outside faucets
• Cleaning the chimney
• Trimming tree overgrowth
• Checking foundation vents

If you do not perform regular home maintenance, the materials that make up the exterior of your house are more likely to experience significant wear and tear faster than they would otherwise. This can lead to early deterioration, and a greater need for more significant and costly repairs at an earlier date. In severe cases, the cost of repairs can exceed the value of your home, resulting in a huge financial loss.
Old Homes vs. New Homes – What You Need to Know
As mentioned earlier, the amount of exterior maintenance and repairs that you will need to perform for an older home are significant when compared to a new home. While the exterior of a new home should be cleaned and inspected on a regular basis, maintenance is much less intensive. For this reason, many people choose to purchase new homes so they do not have to deal with the constant repairs that older homes can require.
Think about it. Why spend your time caulking and repairing siding and shingles when you could be planting flowers and hosting get-togethers? New homes are built with the best materials on the market today, and in many cases come with guarantees, giving you the peace of mind that they’ll last for years to come.
Explore our website to learn about our home locations and exciting new home models, and come see our new homes today!
About Hayden Homes
For nearly 30 years, since it was established in Redmond, Oregon, in 1989, Hayden Homes has built more than 12,000 new homes in over 300 new home communities, across more than 50 cities, spanning Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Hayden Homes continues to be the largest, privately held new homebuilder in the Pacific Northwest.
Hallmarked by a commitment to build high-quality, value-driven new homes, Hayden Homes supports local communities by employing local contractors and vendors and contributing annually to philanthropic efforts in the communities in which they build. Since 1989, Hayden Homes has contributed more than $9 million to charitable donations with the flagship of their giving through the 501C3 Non-Profit, First Story. The Hayden Homes brand family of companies include – Simplicity by Hayden Homes, Wise Size Homes and Hayden Homes, all providing an unparalleled selection of opportunities for those looking to purchase in a new home community in a new home community in the Inland Northwest, including new homes in Spokane, new homes in Spokane Valley, new homes in Coeur d’Alene, new homes in Airway Heights, new homes in Pullman, new homes in Cheney, new homes in Rathdrum, or new homes in Post Falls. Contact us today.