A Checklist for Outdoor Garage and Shed Maintenance
The outbuildings on your property, including the garage and shed, need the same level of attention and maintenance as your main home. Knowing what to do and when to do it ensures that these buildings will suffer few if any issues as they age. The following checklist can help you manage your care and maintenance tasks.
Shed Maintenance Checklist
Your shed maintenance tasks may vary slightly, depending on the style of shed you own. The following list will provide a thorough guide for most maintenance needs. Most of these tasks should be done at least twice annually. Spring is a good time since you can then spot and repair any winter damage. Then, you can perform the second set of maintenance in fall so the shed is ready for winter weather.
-
Perform a roof inspection. Missing shingles or damaged flashing will let in leaks or pests. Fix these issues as soon as you notice them.
-
Clean the gutters. If your shed is equipped with gutters, make sure there is no debris built up in them or the downspouts.
-
Lubricate hinges and handles. You want to make sure doors open properly. If you have an overhead door on your shed, refer to the garage section for maintenance needs.
-
Inspect and replace weatherstripping. The rubber weather seals around doors and windows need to be in good condition to keep out pests, drafts, and moisture. Make sure that you know how to build a garden shed that is well sealed against the elements and pests, as well, so that the weatherstripping is able to provide sufficient protection.
-
Sweep and inspect. Clean floors help minimize the chances of pest problems. Sweep out any built-up debris and take a few minutes to examine all the corners for signs of pests. If you spot anything, such as shed termite wings or mouse droppings, it’s time to call an exterminator.
-
Tend to the siding. Pressure washing works well for cleaning wood, vinyl, and aluminum siding. You can also use a deck brush soapy water. If you have wooden shed, repaint it when the paint begins to fade or peel so that the wood doesn’t rot.
Garage Maintenance Checklist
Much of the shed checklist also applies to garages. This includes things like checking the roof, cleaning the siding, and performing pest inspections. There are also some garage-specific tasks that you need to be aware of. Make sure to perform these tasks on both doors if you have a double garage. The following items, with the exception of lubrication, should be done monthly.
-
Check the springs and cables. This is a simple visual inspection to make sure that the springs and cables are not about to give out. Look for fraying and obvious damage to cables. Spring coils should be evenly stretched, not warped or gapped. If you notice a problem with either of these components, have them professionally replaced. Springs are under high tension so replacement is not a safe job for the homeowner.
-
Perform a balance test. Unbalanced door sticks are loud and are more prone to breakage. Disconnect the automatic opener and lift the door manually. If it lifts smoothly and stays open once lifted, the door is balanced. Otherwise, it is time to schedule an inspection and balancing.
-
Check the safety mechanism. Modern garage doors have a sensor that causes the door to reverse when something is in the way. Test this by placing a block of wood or similar item in the path of the sensor, then attempt to close the garage door. If the door doesn’t start to reverse, then the sensors require adjustment.
-
Lubricate and clean the tracks. This is a semi-annual task, which you can perform in spring and fall. Begin by sweeping out the tracks when the door is closed to remove leaves, cobwebs and dust. You can also use a shop-vac to clean them. Next, apply a small amount of garage door lubricant to the rollers in the tracks and to the hinges on the garage door. Open and close the door a couple of times so the lubricant can work through.
Maintaining your garage and shed doesn’t have to be a time-consuming chore. It takes much less time to perform these tasks when they are needed than it does to schedule major maintenance or repairs later. You can also bring in professional garage builders or technicians to perform these tasks if you don’t want to do them yourself.
About an Author : Tully Rickets writes for Elite Garages and Barns, a specialize in garages, carports, and barns in Melbourne. Find him on Twitter.
