Maintenance Tips for
Single-family Home Communities
1. Service water heater annually.
Water heaters require annual service to achieve maximum life expectancy. They
should be drained, have their pressure relief valves checked and have their sacrificial
anode rod replaced annually.
2. Inspect roofs bi-annually.
All roofs should be inspected and repaired every other year to achieve maximum
life expectancy. Typically, roofs don't fail; but, roof penetrations, valleys and eaves
typically show damage long before the roofing surface does, and water penetration
occurs in these areas first.
3. Keep up with annual and 5-year certification.
Backflow preventers, fire alarm systems and fire extinguishers require annual testing
and certification for compliance. Sprinkler systems and standpipes require
5-year certifications.
4. Keep your exterior painting and waterproofing on a strict schedule.
Exterior paint and caulk have a limited life expectancy, and paint deteriorates due to
UV exposure. Paint and caulk all wood surfaces every five to six years and all stucco
surfaces every ten to twelve years to limit water penetration.
5. Clean your gutters and downspouts annually.
Gutters and downspouts require annual cleaning to ensure proper water flow and to
maximize their useful life. Allowing debris in gutters long-term not only blocks water
flow – it causes damage that the association will have to pay for.
- Cynthia Heskett
Director of Business Development
Associa Northern California
When a person is asked to think of a community, for most of us, the single-family community
— one with free-standing residential homes — comes to mind. Typical items found in single-
family community maintenance programs include common areas and elements such as gazebos,
playgrounds and walking paths.
