11 ways summer weather can damage your home and yard.

1. Peeling wall paint.

Heat, humidity and overall temperature changes can cause unsightly damage to your home’s exterior and interior paint. For example, if your bathroom or kitchen typically experiences high humidity during the summers, you may start to see the paint on your walls and cabinets start to peel.

To prevent this, make sure your rooms are properly ventilated and your AC is working. You might even consider placing a dehumidifier or fans in the room during those humid summer days. 

When in doubt, find a painting professional who can help ensure you take the proper steps when painting your home. And if your home is already experiencing paint damage, a pro can help you repair and repaint the surface so that it looks brand new again.

Related: How much does it cost to hire a painting professional?

2. Issues with exterior siding.

During the summer, your house’s siding may fade from exposure to sunlight. Maintaining your home’s siding by ensuring it’s properly stained and painted will go a long way for protecting your home’s exterior, structure and appearance. Replacing warped, dry or damaged siding can also help to protect your home from larger issues — such as moisture, mold and pests — over time.

Siding contractors near you can help maintain, paint, repair or replace your siding. If your siding needs to be replaced, consider installing siding that is resistant to UV rays.

Related: How much does siding cost?

3. Brown patches in your lawn.

Some lawns consist of cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescues and perennial ryegrass. These grasses may go dormant during the hot and dry summer months, giving your lawn a less vibrant light green or brown appearance. It’s completely normal, and your lawn will look green again as long as you follow these summer lawn maintenance tips: 

• Irrigate deeply but less frequently (preferably early in the morning). A drip irrigation system is usually more effective than sprinkler heads.
• Don’t mow your lawn too short, which can allow more heat and sunlight to damage your lawn. Aim for around 3-3.5 inches tall. 
• Make sure your lawn mower blades are sharp. Mowing with dull blades could turn your lawn yellow or brown. 
• Don’t over-fertilize. Too much nitrogen could burn your lawn.
• You may also want to consider aerating your lawn (if you have warm-season grass or if your soil is too compacted). 

Sometimes, summer rain and humidity can encourage fungal growth that leads to brown spots. When this occurs, you may want to look into applying a fungicide. Lawn care professionals in your area can help you prevent these issues — or help you find a solution to repair your lawn.

Related: What temperature is too hot to water grass?

4. Damaged fences.

Fences are exposed to the elements on all sides and can be damaged from excess moisture, extreme temperatures, high winds and storms during the summer. Hot weather and changes in the temperature throughout the day can distort the paint. And excessive moisture and humidity may rust metal fencing or rot a wooden fence.

If you live in an area with summer storms and hurricanes, you probably already know that strong winds and rain can blow fence posts loose, and bend or break fencing panels. Storm weather can also tear down nearby structures or tree branches, which can then damage your fencing. 

This summer, be proactive. Stay on top of any repairs, and keep up with annual maintenance to prevent serious problems during summer’s fluctuating weather. For example:

• Remove dead or weak tree branches that could fall off and hit your fence.
• Ensure your fence posts have adequate drainage to help prevent moisture from pooling around the bases.
• Replace rotten or rusted posts, and keep your fence clear of debris that may hold excess moisture or be a fire hazard.
• Choose a durable exterior paint and sealant to keep your fence looking its best.

If you need assistance, hire a fence professional near you to help you repair, repaint or replace your fence.

Related: How much do fence repairs cost?

5. Moss and rot on outdoor wooden structures.

Wood structures (decks, pergolas, patio furniture, etc.) can accumulate mold, moss, mildew, rot and rust in humid climates. But keeping these areas well-maintained with regular cleanings and inspections can help you prevent these problems.

Consider pressure washing and sealing your deck and furniture as needed to get rid of mildew and moss. And add layers of protection from the hot summer sun by creating shade with trees, shrubs, a pergola or an awning.

Every now and then, inspect your deck and furniture. If you notice rot or warping, you may need to call in a professional for repairs.

If you need to repaint your wood structures, make sure you prepare the surface properly before you start. Preparation often includes sanding, cleaning and priming. Use high-quality primers and paint (research and compare several brands), and make sure you don’t paint when it’s hot and humid outside. When you’re finished, you may want to apply a sealant to help protect these structures from UV rays.

Lastly, if you’re considering repairing your wood deck, it doesn’t hurt to look into other materials as well. For example, it may be worth getting a new deck that’s made out of aluminum instead of wood because it’s less prone to mold and mildew issues. 

Related: How much do deck repairs cost?

6. Weakened roofing materials. 

Some damage is immediately noticeable. But it can be hard to detect summer damage on your roof.

During the summer, the humidity can encourage moisture and mold growth, causing your roof shingles to warp and buckle. And when your roof shingles expand and warp, this can cause cracking and splitting — which may eventually cause a leak. 

Summer storms and hot, dry winds may also damage shingles or roof decking. Heat can dry out caulking around ventilation and flashing, which can also let in excess moisture. And if it gets really hot during the day but cool at night in the summer (or before and after thunderstorms), the temperature changes can make your roof expand and contract, which can weaken your roofing material and (again) result in a leak.

Regularly scheduled roof maintenance and inspections is a must for every homeowner. You should also ensure your roof is structurally sound. A properly maintained roof will impact your property’s value.

Consider coating and sealing your roof to help it withstand summer’s excess humidity, harmful UV rays and fluctuating temperatures. And always have your roof professionally assessed by a top-rated roofing professional in your area.

Related: 5 signs that your roof is in need of repair ASAP.

7. Concrete cracks and faded finishes.

UV rays can damage and fade decorative finishes or features on concrete surfaces, like driveways, flooring, patios and foundations. Over time, the summer heat (along with the temperature changes throughout the year) may even cause your concrete to crack. 

For concrete driveways and patios, consider applying a UV-resistant sealer regularly (about every one to three years) to keep the surface looking good. It’s also recommended to remove stains quickly before they absorb into concrete. In addition, repair cracks or replace damaged and broken slabs as necessary.

Related: How much does concrete resurfacing cost?

8. Buckling hardwood floors that change color.

Humid conditions can cause the natural wood fibers in hardwood floors to grow and expand, causing them to buckle, cup or push upwards. When hardwood floors become an uneven surface, it can result in permanent cracks and damage. 

The National Wood Flooring Association recommends keeping your home at 30%-50% humidity throughout the year. If your home gets more humid than normal during the summer, you may want to install a whole-home dehumidifier. This will help protect your hardwood floors by making sure they don’t swell and expand from excess moisture. If the damage has already been done, you may need to install new flooring or look into repairs. You may also want to sand and refinish your wood.

Another problem that can happen: UV damage can change your flooring’s color. If you have hardwood floors, you may notice that some parts of your floor are lighter or more faded than others — especially in the areas near windows. Prevent this by placing rugs on your floor, moving furniture around and installing window coverings to shield hardwood from direct sunlight.

Related: How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors?

9. Mold growth.

Hot temperatures and high humidity create a playground for mold. Add poor ventilation and lack of moisture control to the mix, and you could be facing significant problems this summer.

Ensure your home is properly insulated to help keep interior temperatures cool and mold-free. Using your AC and dehumidifier can help prevent excess moisture. As long as your home has the proper ventilation and humidity levels (and you address leaks, spills and condensation issues quickly), you can help protect your home. 

If mold is already posing problems in your home, contact mold remediation services near you.

Related: How much does mold remediation cost?

10. Foundation-related issues.

Are summers in your area dry and hot? If so, keep an eye on the soil around your home. Drought-like conditions may dry out your soil so it shifts and shrinks, causing severe foundation-related issues, such as: 

• Foundation cracks
• Interior wall cracks
• Doors that won’t close
• Bulging floors
• Expanded seals and caulking

If you notice any of these signs, contact a professional. They can help you pinpoint the cause and suggest repairs.

Related: How much does foundation repair cost?

11. Air circulation and venting issues.

You may have noticed that poor ventilation and high humidity cause different types of damage in the summer. From mold growth to peeling paint — a lot of these issues can be prevented if you keep your home’s interior cool and free from excessive moisture. 

A home with good air circulation is more comfortable and less costly. Make sure your vents are free of debris (and mold), and get your AC system serviced. Hire a top-rated HVAC contractor near you to assess your system, provide maintenance or make repairs.