Exterior Maintenance Guide

Upkeep on a calendar

Content under the exterior maintenance guide tag is organized around timing. Instead of waiting until something looks bad, a short walk around the house each season catches problems while they are small. Here is the rhythm we suggest for homes in our area.

The checklist below is deliberately short. Each item takes a few minutes, needs nothing more than your eyes, a garden hose and occasionally a caulk gun, and is timed to the point in our year when that particular problem tends to appear.

A four-season checklist

Keep a simple log with dates and photos of anything you find. When it is time to repaint, that record shows a contractor which areas have been trouble spots and helps them scope repairs accurately.

• Spring: rinse off pollen once the heaviest season passes; check the north side for new mildew.
• Early summer: before storm season, look for open caulk joints at windows and doors and reseal them.
• Late summer: inspect the lower walls for soil splashback and algae; check fascia below any gutter that overflowed.
• Fall: examine sunny elevations for chalking and fading, and note any soft or swollen wood trim.
• Winter: the drier months are a good time to schedule touch-ups or a repaint.

When to call in help

If your checklist turns up widespread chalking, soft wood or cracked stucco, it may be time for an exterior repaint or stucco repair. A seasonal exterior wash handles most of the cleaning items above.