A Home Maintenance Checklist After a Storm

If your neighborhood looked anything like ours after last week’s storms, you’ve probably spent more time than you planned dragging branches to the curb, filling yard waste bags, or listening to chainsaws in the distance.

Central Connecticut took a pretty good beating. High winds and heavy rain left plenty of downed trees, broken limbs, and debris scattered across neighborhoods. Thankfully, many homeowners escaped with only minor damage, but storms like these are also a good reminder that your home’s exterior takes more of a beating than you might realize.

Once you’ve finished cleaning up the obvious mess, it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to walk around your property. A quick inspection now can help you catch small issues before they turn into expensive repairs later.

1. Start with Your Roof

Before you even grab a ladder, take a slow walk around your house and look up. You’re looking for anything that seems out of place such as missing shingles, lifted ridge caps, damaged flashing around chimneys or vents, or branches that may have scraped across the roof.

Not every problem is obvious from the ground, but if something catches your eye, don’t ignore it. Even a small area of damage can allow water to work its way underneath the roofing materials, and the leak often doesn’t show up until the next heavy rain.

2. Give Your Gutters Some Attention

After a storm, gutters have a way of collecting everything from leaves and twigs to pine needles and seed pods. Once they’re clogged, they can’t do the job they’re designed to do.

Instead of carrying water away from your home, overflowing gutters can send water behind your siding, damage fascia boards, wash out landscaping, or even contribute to water finding its way into your basement.

If you’ve already been outside cleaning up branches, this is the perfect time to make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear and draining properly.

3. Don’t Forget the Trees That Stayed Standing

Most people notice the branches that came down. The ones that are still hanging overhead deserve just as much attention.

Look for cracked limbs, split trunks, or branches that are now hanging over your roof or rubbing against your siding. Storms often weaken trees without bringing them down immediately, which means the next windy day could finish the job.

If you have mature trees close to your home, it’s worth having an arborist take a look if anything seems questionable.

4. Walk the Outside of Your Home

Wind doesn’t have to knock something over to cause damage. Flying debris can loosen siding, crack trim, or damage the caulking around windows and doors.

Take a slow walk around your home and look closely. Small gaps may not seem like a big deal today, but they can allow water, insects, and moisture to find their way inside over time. Catching those little problems early is almost always easier and less expensive than waiting until they become major repairs.

5. Keep an Eye Out for Hidden Water Damage

Not every storm leaves behind obvious damage. Sometimes the warning signs don’t appear for several days.

Over the next week or two, keep an eye out for new water stains on ceilings, damp spots in the attic, peeling paint, musty odors, or discoloration around windows. Those subtle changes are often the first indication that wind-driven rain found a way into your home.

The earlier you catch a leak, the simpler and less costly the repair is likely to be.

6. Use This as a Chance to Get Ahead

One thing we’ve learned over the past several years is that severe weather isn’t as unusual as it once seemed. Strong storms have become part of life here in Connecticut, and the best time to prepare for the next one is while this one is still fresh in your mind.

Ask yourself a few simple questions. Are tree branches hanging over your roof? Are your gutters getting old? Is your roof nearing the end of its life? Are your windows and siding still doing the job they were designed to do?

You don’t have to tackle every project this season, but having a plan is always better than being caught off guard.

Once the branches are piled at the curb and your yard starts looking like itself again, spend just a little more time giving your home a careful once-over. A few minutes of maintenance today can help prevent a much bigger headache tomorrow.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Spring Moisture and Mold Season

Every spring, Connecticut homes go through a quiet transition, and it is not just the obvious one happening outside. While we are noticing greener grass and warmer days, our homes are dealing with something else entirely: moisture buildup.

When that moisture finds its way into your home, even in small amounts, it can create the perfect conditions for mold to take hold. Here is the problem: mold does not need a flood or a major leak. It simply needs a little dampness and a place to sit undisturbed. That could be inside a wall, beneath a floor, or up in an attic with poor airflow. Once it starts, it spreads quietly.

A lot of homeowners assume mold is easy to spot. Sometimes it is, but more often, it remains hidden. It might show up as a faint stain overhead, a patch of peeling paint, or a room that always smells a little off, no matter how much you clean it.

In my line of work, we see it all the time. We frequently open up a wall during a project and find mold that has clearly been there for years, completely unnoticed. It is much more common than people think, especially in older homes or spaces that lack proper ventilation.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not just about the health of your home. Mold affects indoor air quality, which means it can impact how you feel day to day, especially if you are already dealing with allergies or respiratory issues.

So, what actually helps? In most cases, it comes down to managing moisture before it becomes a major problem.

A few things worth paying attention to this time of year include:

• Check your grading: Ensure water always moves away from your house by verifying that your yard is graded properly.

• Clear your gutters: Keep gutters and downspouts free of debris, and make sure they extend far enough from the foundation.

• Fix the roof: Address small roof issues early and thoroughly, as they rarely stay small.

• Check ventilation: Verify that bathroom fans vent outside rather than into the attic, where moisture easily gets trapped.

• Inspect for leaks: Take a closer look at any new signs of water on your ceilings or walls.

• Dry it out: Dry or remove wet materials quickly, particularly carpets.

• Use a dehumidifier: Run a dehumidifier in your basement, as these spaces tend to hold moisture longer during the spring.

• Monitor appliances: Place simple trays under your appliances to catch slow leaks and identify issues early.

One of the biggest mistakes we see is treating mold like a surface problem. If it keeps coming back after cleaning or painting, it means the source has not been addressed. Until the underlying moisture is fixed, the mold will keep returning.

That is when it is worth digging deeper, sometimes literally, and getting a professional involved. They can help figure out where the moisture is coming from and how to stop it permanently.

Spring is the time when a lot of homeowners shift into "fix-it" mode, which is a great thing. If you can stay ahead of moisture now, you will avoid much bigger headaches later in terms of both repairs and air quality.

Ultimately, when it comes to mold, it is rarely about one big event. It is the small, consistent moisture issues that do the most damage over time.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” Questions may be considered for publication. To learn more, call (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

A Roof and Gutter Inspection Checklist for Spring

After a long New England winter, your roof and gutters deserve a little TLC. Spring is the perfect time to inspect for any damage left behind by winter and prep your home for the warmer season ahead. Here’s a simple 10-step checklist to help you spring into action because a quick, proactive check now can save you serious money and headaches down the road. 

1. Safety First. Start smart. Use a sturdy ladder on flat ground, wear shoes with good traction, and don’t go it alone. If your roof is steep or high, consider a safety harness or call in a pro.

2. Ground-Level Walkaround. Before climbing anything, take a walk around your home. Look up and scan for missing or damaged shingles, sagging rooflines, or any debris buildup from winter storms. A pair of binoculars is a handy tool here.

3. Inspect the Roof Surface. If it’s safe, climb up for a closer look. Winter’s freeze-thaw cycles can loosen shingles, damage flashing, and open up trouble spots. Focus on high-risk areas like valleys, chimneys, and skylights.

4. Flashing & Seal Check. Snow and ice can crack flashing and wear down seals around vents and roof joints. Look for gaps or rust, and re-seal any areas that no longer look watertight.

5. Clean Out the Gutters. Winter storms can clog your gutters with leaves, pine needles, and shingle grit. Clear out all debris and make sure water flows freely through the downspouts—otherwise, you’re risking water damage and foundation issues.

6. Confirm Gutter Slope. Gutters should slope slightly toward the downspouts. If water pools or overflows, grab a level and check. Adjust the hangers as needed to restore proper drainage.

7. Check Fascia & Soffits. Cold, wet weather is hard on wood. Look for signs of rot, peeling paint, or pest activity on the fascia boards and soffits—these areas often show the first signs of hidden water damage.

8. Peek Into the Attic. Head inside and inspect the underside of your roof. Water stains, mold, or musty smells could mean you’ve got a leak. Also check that your attic vents are clear to allow air to circulate and moisture to escape.

9. Take Photos. Snap pictures of anything that looks questionable. These will come in handy if you need to call a contractor—or if an insurance claim is necessary.

10. Schedule a Pro Inspection. Even if everything looks good, a professional inspection once a year is a smart move. Pros know where to look for hidden issues and can help extend the life of your roof with early fixes.

Spring is the season for fresh starts and smart maintenance. Your roof worked hard all winter. Give it the attention it deserves this spring so it can keep doing its job all year long. A little maintenance now means fewer surprises later.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.