Spring Cottage Opening Tips
The ice is gone and we are all so excited to get back on the water – I know. Getting the dock and boat back in the water is the first sign that summer is back, but maintenance of your property is a big part of enjoying this season of fun. Maintenance, if you stay on top of it, can make for smooth sailing…
Here are a few basic tips and suggestions and a little bit of work you can do to ensure you and your cottage property are in ship-shape for the kickoff of cottage season. Hello long days on the dock and nights spent under the stars!
If your dock spent the winter floating in the lake, when you retrieve it check the floats for damage from possible ice pressure, and ensure ropes used to hold your dock in place are in good condition – often weather and harsh UV rays can break down rope fibres and can have an impact on their strength – we don’t want any docks floating away.
If your dock is made of wood, check all boards for rot, splinters, raised nails or screws; no one wants to wear shoes to jump off the dock if they don’t have to!
Inspect hinges and hardware on your dock for cracks, rust, bending or breakage. This includes dock couplers, hinges, cleats and anchoring hardware.
If you have an aluminium frame dock, check all welds for stress cracks; if your dock is on a cantilever system check your winch to make sure teeth are in good shape, cables should be checked for fraying before lowering into the water.
If you draw water from the lake, inspect your pump and foot valve every year before installing it for the season. It is much easier to make sure everything is in working order before you drop it in the lake and have to go for a dip to make repairs.
Do a full walk-around of the exterior of the building checking for water and ice damage, foundation cracks, clogged gutters and potential roof damage. Check your hydro lines and ensure they are clear.
Inside the cottage take a look around for friendly rodents who have moved in over the winter months. Signs of mice include droppings on counters and in cupboards, and sometimes they will make nests in closets, drawers and even beds! While we love cottage guests these are not the ones we want to entertain.
Check all window and door screens for damage, and window sills and panes for condensation or mould and mildew, this needs to be dealt with before you inhabit your seasonal property for the season, and might take special cleaners.
With tumultuous weather over the winter there is always a bit of outdoor cleanup to be done in the spring. Have a plan to deal with excess brush and limbs and do not leave large piles of brush around the property, not only does it invite animal friends to move in, it can also increase the number of insects you battle all summer long. Don’t forget to look up! Hanging limbs and branches are dangerous and should not be left to hang or come down on their own.
Spring is also a great time to assess little things like your first aid kit and fire extinguisher. Check to make sure contents are not expired or depleted in your first aid kit, and include things like tweezers, a tick removal kit and lots of bandaids. Fire extinguishers should be replaced approximately every 10 years, so double check the date on yours. Replace batteries and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and flashlights. Accidents happen when we least expect them, and being prepared for them offers peace of mind that no matter what happens you have the supplies you need for an emergency.
Don’t forget about septic safety, it is a good idea to have your septic system inspected and potentially pumped by a professional at the beginning of the season depending on its usage.
These are only a few starting points for getting back to the cottage, as you get familiar with your property there will be more specific things for you to consider – a great idea is to make a written list and post it inside a closet or cupboard door for reference – that way you will be able to add to the list when you think of something new; include on that list the names and contacts for your preferred local contractors like an electrician, plumber, HAVC, septic, propane supplier etc.
My theory: get all the dirty work done first, so that you have more time to relax on the dock with a beverage in hand, enjoying the sights and sounds of summer in Cottage Country.