Although soaring temperatures in many regions of the country seem to indicate otherwise, summer doesn't officially arrive until late June, which gives homeowners adequate time to prepare their homes for the long heat waves ahead (or those already in progress). Your home's exterior takes a beating under the heat of the summer sun -- particularly if you live in the desert Southwest, South Central states or Southeast, where temperatures remain elevated without relief for between four to five months on average. In fact, within many regions of the United States, the only "relief" in sight for the immediate future is an occasional summer rainstorm; and as those of us in the Midwest and Southern states will attest, those storms can become violent and cause considerable damage to homes.

So how do you prepare your home's exterior for the summer and minimize repair costs? Your home contains several vulnerable areas which are particularly susceptible to the effects of the sun. Take, for example, your fence. Extreme and prolonged heat can cause chipped and peeling paint. Sudden and severe rainstorms and subsequent flooding may cause the ground to shift and the posts to move and become unsteady. Take a good look at your fence. If you spot signs that it's beginning to lean or even sag, call a professional at once. This isn't just a question of aesthetics; it's also a safety issue. When the next summer storm brings strong winds, that fence could topple. If and when that scenario happens, the results could be tragic if anyone -- child or adult -- is standing in harm's way. While you're inspecting your fence for structural integrity, also make sure that you check the locks and latches. Unsupervised children have been known to take wander into back yards when latches aren't secure, and if you have a pool, they could easily drown.

While you're in your back yard, examine your patio and/or deck for winter damage. Regardless of any water sealants you may have applied on your deck, the months of cold weather and wet precipitation can wreak havoc on wood. Make sure no boards and/or nails have become loose. And if you haven't applied any sealants yet to the deck, this is a good time to do it. Sealants won't make your deck infalliable, but they will help preserve the lifespan of the wood. You'll also need to inspect paint for signs of chipping or peeling. Take a close look at the floor of your patio, as well. If you spot any cracks, you'll need to fill them in. If you don't, water from summer rainstorms will easily find its way into these gaps and cause the surface to raise up in isolated spots, which will create a costly problem.

Your roof is one of your home's most vulnerable spots. It's critical that you watch for signs of damage because the cost of roof repair can become astronomical depending upon the severity of damage. The signs of damage that you should look for include cracks, missing shingles (if your home has a wooden shingle roof) and signs of age (brittle shingles, for example). If you notice any areas on your roof that need repair, call a professional, who will not only repair the damage to your roof caused by the winter months, but help protect it from the merciless summer weather, as well. And remember to clear your roof and gutters of all branches, leaves and other debris that collects throughout the season.

Taken a look at your garage door lately? Hinges and tracks may have become warped or damaged over time as they're exposed to extremes of heat and cold. Test the reverse function in your electric garage door by placing an object underneath the door (something relatively soft and pliable, such as a stack of newspapers). The door should reverse direction right after making contact with the object. If it doesn't, it's time to call a repair service.

If you own a sprinkler system, you'll need to test it to ensure that water is continuing to hit your landscaping (not your house) in target areas. You might consider resetting the time at which the sprinklers come on -- for example, later in the evening. right before nightfall, so that the intense rays of the sun don't cause water to evaporate before it has a chance to be absorbed into the soil. In addition, examine the sprinkler heads and joints (where accessible) for cracks and/or leaks.

In an accompanying piece, we'll take a look at how you can prepare the inside of your home for the arrival of the summer months. Most homeowners don't consider the indoors as vulnerable to extremes in temperature, but the measures you take throughout the inside of your home can greatly affect your energy bills and make the difference between a costly summer and a cool and less expensive one.

Summer Maintenance for Your Home's Interior - Part II