April Home Maintenance

To avoid home disasters and/or a lot of home improvement in one single weekend, I'm bringing you a home maintenance check list every month. Doing a little each month will save you time and money. Plus, you don't have to worry about printing a yearly list and then losing it. In case you missed the first three months, you can find them here: January is here, February is here, and March is here. These lists are very short, but important.

The two things you need to do in April are:

1. Paint the house. "Latex paint performs best when the temperature at the time of application is 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit," says Mark Schulte, director of membership and education for the Paint & Decorating Retailers Association, in St. Peters, Missouri. Under direct sunlight and scorching summer heat, "paint may lose adhesion, bubble, and peel."
2. Examine outdoor play equipment. Pieces made of wood, in particular, can get damaged during the winter. Cut or sand any splinters, and look for rotting at the base, which could weaken the structure.