by Mara Muller

The fall season is coming! And while I know that I’ll have to park really far away at Costco, and it may take an extra few minutes to drive my kids to their afternoon activities, I simply cannot wait! There is nothing more wonderful to me than throwing the doors and windows of my house open, or it being a little chilly when I get the newspaper in the morning. I simply cannot wait.

Because our inclement weather comes in the summer, in Naples we really do a fall cleaning instead of a spring cleaning. All those maintenance projects that we put off until it stops raining, well November is a great time to get these tasks done – and have your home looking shiny for the holidays. Using our own house as a guide, here are some maintenance guides to keep your Florida home in great shape.

Check all of your screens for rips and tears. Consider replacing the ones that are hopelessly bent out of shape. The finishes around your windows should be checked for paint deterioration and rot (particularly sills). Window wells should be cleaned out so the windows open and close easily. Make sure your sliding glass doors move easily in their track, lock easily and give all the glass a thorough cleaning.

Gutters and downspouts should be checked for blockage, leakage and re-securing. Paint deterioration in the area should also be noted. Downspout seams should be checked for splitting (the seam is usually against the wall). A split downspout is often plugged with debris after the summer rains. Water can accumulate in the downspout, splitting it open. Also, make sure there has not been too much erosion under the downspout from all of the heavy summer rain.

Attics should be inspected annually for water stains on the underside of the roof sheathing. You should also look for rot, mildew, and fungus indicating high humidity levels in the attic. Check to make sure the insulation is not wet. Some types of loose insulation are prone to being blown around during periods of high wind, so make sure that there are no bare spots and ensure that insulation is not covering lights. Attic vents should be checked to ensure that they are not obstructed or that birds have built nests in them. Vents at the eaves are often plugged with insulation. Watch for evidence of pests (e.g., squirrels, raccoons, etc.).

Now that most of the rain is over, it is time to pressure wash your roof and homes. Make sure to closely inspect all around after doing this and touch up any paint that is deteriorated. It is also a good time to re-seal your stone or paver decks, driveways and walkways.

Don’t forget your landscaping. It is time to make sure that your sprinklers are facing the right direction and in good working order. Apply fertilizer to Bermudagrass, St. Augustine, and Zoysia. This will be the last fertilization of the lawn this year. Mulch to keep the soil moist as we head towards the dryer months. By the end of November it will be cool enough to create a display of fall colors with cool season plants. Some to try are asters, strawflowers, and pansies, in addition to the area favorite, impatiens.

Now your home is clean, bright and shiny for all of your holiday visitors!