In an age of do-it-yourself, it’s easy to overlook simple maintenance projects that can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Contractor and owner of Jacob Meck Construction, Jacob Meck, has a few tips for home owners before they take steps to renovate their homes this spring and summer.

“One of my biggest tips that I always put out there is when you’re on the ladder, always have someone there with you,” Meck said. “Don’t be out there alone, it’s very, very dangerous. My rule of thumb is, if you’re not comfortable, don’t try it. Usually, when you’re not comfortable, that’s when something bad happens.”

Roof

“If you have a shingled roof, once it gets to be 10 to 15 years old, you might see shingles laying the the yard. That’s a pretty good indicator that you have damage from the winter. It’s a good time to get on the roof to check for weak spots and more loose shingles.

“With a metal roof, make sure the screws are down tight. That’s an easy check you can do from the yard. You can look at the screws with getting on a ladder or on the roof.”

Siding

“Whether you have brick, wood or vinyl siding, warm weather is a good time to get the power washer out. Brick siding usually doesn’t need a lot of upgrades unless you fill in spots of cracked mortar. Before power washing your wood or vinyl siding, check for loose edges and trims.”

Windows and doors

“After a harsh winter, it’s always good to check if the weather stripping is still in place. A lot of times, doors will get rotten spots underneath the thresholds and it’s a good time to go in the crawl space or the basement underneath those areas, pull the insulation back and check to make sure there isn’t any mold or mildew. It’s easier to replace a rotten threshold than it is to replace a door and the entire frame.”

Decks and patios

“Spring and summer are the best time to do staining and pressure washing. It’s best to stain every two or three years. If people are looking into adding a deck, I like to recommend they look into alternative materials that are out there other than pressure treated lumber. A lot of those products are made from recycled materials, so many of those don’t need to be stained, it lasts longer and is less maintenance.”

Septic tanks

“You don’t want to forget about your septic tank. Normally, you want to get it pumped every five to seven years. That’s a good maintenance thing that keeps bad things from happening on down the road.”

Bathrooms and kitchens

“These are the heaviest used areas in the home. Around 15 to 20 years they start to show heavy wear. There are so many options now with so many manufacturers offering an array of products, it can be daunting to find what you want. It’s better to team up with someone to help design the space and help you navigate through the product choices.”

Garage doors

“There are different grades of garage doors. Normally, I would go with an aluminum door, which you can get with insulation. They have better track hardware and a nicer spring system. The doors move smoother and make less noise.”