Fall has officially arrived. It’s the last-chance-season to get your property ready to face the winter’s rain, snow, winds, and fluctuating temperatures. Home exterior fall maintenance priorities include checking windows and entry doors, inspecting the roof, and looking for cracks in the foundation.
Clean and inspect the roof.
Before you clean the gutters this fall, sweep off twigs, leaves, seed pods, and other bits of debris from the roof so it doesn’t end up in your freshly cleaned gutters.
Inspect the roof for:
- Missing shingles
- “Bald” shingles – asphalt roof where protective granules have been washed away
- Damaged shingles – curling edges, cracked, pitted
- Missing/damaged flashing
- Soffit and fascia – raised nail heads, stains, wood rot, peeling paint
From inside the attic look for pinholes in the roof deck that let in light. Also check the insulation to see if it is wet or stained.
Clean the gutters and downspouts.
Cleaning the gutters and downspouts mid-to-late fall is the best preventative medicine for avoiding gutter failure or emergency repairs during the winter months. Water runs down the roof into the gutters, bringing organic debris, dirt, and pollutants. When allowed to sit in the gutter system, accumulated debris can form clogs causing:
- Overflowing gutters
- Stained siding
- Wood rot (trim, soffit, fascia)
- Sagging
- Worn/leaking seams
Do the garden hose test to ensure that the downpipes are free of clogs. Check to see if the downspouts are firmly attached. If you use downspouts extenders, reposition/replace them if they have been moved or damaged.
Clean and inspect the siding.
Dust, algae, mildew, and pollen can build up on siding panels during the spring and summer. When winter rain arrives, these layers of build-up trap in moisture, promoting mould growth, attracting pests, and encouraging structural issues. To prevent moisture retention problems, clean siding by applying water first with a garden hose, then using a solution of warm water and mild dish detergent for more stubborn stains.
In the second to third week of fall, inspect the siding for the following:
- Cracks
- Warping
- Peeling paint/compromised finish
- Faint green or black smudges, spots, or discolourations (signs of early appearance of mould)
- Tiny holes (beetles, bees), sawdust or powdery dust (ants, beetles), chewed edges (squirrels, raccoons, rodents)
Make repairs as soon as possible to prevent the damage from becoming worse, and allowing pests into your home rent free.
Check windows and entry doors.
Look for gaps around the window/door trim and where it meets the frame or the siding. Caulking the gaps prevents air escaping (higher energy bills) and air coming into your home (drafts).
If you need to paint the trim, do it in the fall so that the paint has enough time to cure, and will be able to withstand winter temperatures without peeling, cracking, etc. The same applies to painting anywhere else on your home’s exterior.
What are the trees growing near the house up to?
Trees growing near the house can pose a danger to your roof, gutters, and siding. Branches can scrape away the protective granules of asphalt shingles or add scratches to the siding.
They can drop pine needles, twigs, and leaves into the gutters. What harm can pine needles do, they’re too small? They are sticky and clump together, the perfect storm for creating clogs.
Give the trees growing near the house a visual health checkup once a year and an inspection by a certified arborist every two to three years.
Look for cracks in the foundation.
Ignoring your foundation is a recipe for disaster. Any damage such as small cracks, soil erosion (soil being washed away), tree roots (removing moisture causing instability), and poor grading (water draining toward instead of away from exterior walls) will only worsen if not dealt with as soon as possible. When left untreated, damage could escalate to structural failure and costly repair.
