After purchasing a house, you may find that you need to do some work. Where should you start?
Most new homeowners begin with the interior. After all, it’s where they spend most of their time! It’s a clear priority once you move in, but don’t neglect the home’s outside. Use these tips to refresh the exterior to get started as a first-time homeowner.
Apply a Detergent to the House To Get Rid of Dirt and Mold
The two most common things people use to construct houses are siding and bricks. Siding is vinyl or aluminum, while bricks include clay and concrete.
Mold, mildew, dirt, and more can become stuck on the surface over the years. To enliven the exterior, thoroughly wash the surfaces. But first, you’ll need a proper detergent to eradicate those stubborn stains.
A Suitable Detergent for Siding
To remove mildew stains on siding, use 1 part bleach with 10 parts water. Apply the solution to the mildew-ridden sections and allow the mixture to sit. There’s no need for hard scrubbing; the solution will do the work on its own!
The Perfect Solution for Cleaning Bricks
When cleaning bricks, tougher stains may require an all-purpose pressure washer cleaning solution. In most cases, all you’ll need is a homemade solution of 1 part water and 1 part vinegar.
Use a garden hose to apply water to the bricks before adding any cleaning solution. Then, you can apply the detergent and rinse it away with the pressure washer in the following step.
Pressure Wash the House
Pressure washing is an efficient method to rid the house of any dirt, mold, and other debris settled on the surface. After the cleaning solution sits on the siding or brick for at least 10 minutes, you can use the pressure washer to cleanse the surface.
Rinsing the Siding
To pressure wash siding, start at a lower setting and gradually increase. The desired range for siding power washing is between 1,000 to 3,000 PSI. Keep the angle of the washer downward and stand a considerable distance away from the house.
Washing the Bricks
You should pressure wash bricks differently. Although bricks are sturdy, they’re more likely to break down under lots of force.
Use a low-pressure setting at 500 PSI with a wide nozzle. Once you feel you’re ready to start washing the bricks, you should stand a good distance away. Being too close will apply too much pressure and potentially damage the brick.
Remove Dead or Ugly Plants in the Landscaping
Now that the house’s walls are clean, you can think about refreshing the home’s exterior design. A tip for first-time homeowners is to start by removing any atrocious plants you dislike.
You can remove every plant or keep a couple that continue to thrive. Once you have a blank canvas, you can begin to make the home truly reflective of you.
Find Out if You Can Paint Your Roof
If the roof looks dull but is in great shape, maybe you’d like to tackle the challenge of painting the roof! It’s entirely possible to paint a metal roof, but did you also know you can paint asphalt shingles and clay tiles?
A roof in incredible shape that just needs refreshing can use a few coats of paint. Choose paint that coincides with the roofing material first. Decide on a color that suits your liking, and get to work!
