On Jan 6, 1:59*pm, coloradotrout wrote:
We just bought a home built in 2000 located in a summertime humid
climate. *We used to live in a dry climate where water damage was
pretty much unheard of.

It looks to be about ready for paint, and the front covered porch
floor is rotting in several spots, so that needs work. *Also, some of
the siding where the planks butt together look like they should be
caulked, and maybe some caulking around the exterior of the window.
And there are some leaks in the gutters and some of the facia board
(the finished edge of the roof?) looks to be black/rotting.

Overall it's in great shape, but in need of some 8+ year
maintenance.

What else do I need to look for? *What are the solutions to these?
When/where and how do I do the caulking?

Looking for basic problem identification and resolution.

Start with these:

http://www.ci.lakewood.oh.us/pdf/Hom...intenance..pdf

http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1505.html

Once you've got a general idea of what items need to be considered,
head off to your local bookstore and browse through their offerings to
which books cover the items you are interested in.

As a first time homeowner 20+ years ago, I learned a lot from this
book - still have it -

Renovation: A Complete Guide
by Michael W. Litchfield
John Wiley & Sons; Inc - Publisher
TH4816.l57 643'.7 82-7100
ISBN 0-471-04903-4 AACR2

Don't let the word "renovation" scare you away. I have found
renovation guides to be very good at explaining what is going on in
older homes, as well as providing some examples on how to repair
problems. Sometimes figuring out what is supposed to be happening
goes a long way towards figuring out why it isn't!