Pride of Ownership: Time for Repairs

Summer in Buffalo. There is truly nothing like it.

We have a delightfully temperate climate that keeps us not too hot in the summer, and not too cold (believe it or not) in the winter. And yet, cold enough that we know to appreciate our summers.

So when summer rolls around, we deserve to enjoy every minute we can outside. But when you own a home, a condo, or a small business, you may look at your outdoor deck or patio and realize it needs some attention. Of course it does! All winter, it's covered under snow that is slowly melting, fighting against a biting wind, and salt (the bane of my experience).

Anyway, all that to say: when is it time to provide your outdoor space a little TLC? We'll help break it down for you.

1. Obviously broken: We'll start easy. If you are missing pieces of your fence or patio, it is time to take care of it. Consider it the same for something else that broke or chipped. Not only will it look better, but it will up your street appeal to others, and be safer for you and your loved ones.

   
   

2. Warping, bending, bowing, or peeling wood: Like above, it will look better, and it will be safer. If one of your kid's balls rolls to the middle of the patio no matter where you place it, it might be time to consider replacing the wood here.

   
   

3. Chipping paint: While this may not exactly improve safety, you will feel better about repainting wood when the paint is starting to chip. You can freshen it up, change the color, and, most important for being outside, apply a seal or coat at the end.

   
   

4. Your situation has changed: This might be less obvious... until you need it. Maybe your mobility has changed, and now your infrastructure needs to change, too. Maybe you have kids or pets, and you need a whole fence, or you need to finish a partial fence. You'll just sort of know with this one because something will feel off.

I'm sure we've forgotten something, but that is a good checklist to get you started. Is it in a good condition? Is it safe? Is it working for us. If the answer is "no" to any of those, it's time for an upgrade!

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