There’s something about the first cool mornings of fall that makes you realize winter is coming a lot faster than you thought.
And while it’s tempting to call it a day on outdoor home projects once the temperatures drop, fall is actually one of the best times to take care of the exterior of your home. A small repair that seems harmless now can become a much bigger problem once freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and winter moisture arrive.
So before you officially pack away the outdoor furniture and settle in for the colder months, take one last walk around your home. Look at the places you normally don’t think twice about. Is that railing getting loose? Are your gutters pulling away from the house? Is there peeling or damaged siding? Does that porch need some attention?
These are the projects worth getting on the list now.
Start at the Front Door
Your front door does more than make a first impression. It helps protect your home from the elements.
Take a look at the door itself, the frame, the trim, and the area around it. If you notice drafts, moisture, damaged wood, sticking, or gaps around the frame, fall is a good time to address them.
Depending on the home, replacing an older door with a fiberglass, steel, or wood door can improve both the appearance and performance of the entryway. And if you have a pet door, this is also a good time to make sure it is properly sealed and functioning the way it should before cold weather arrives.
Don’t Ignore Your Gutters
Your gutters are easy to forget about until they stop doing their job.
Before winter, make sure they are clear, secure, and directing water away from your home. Look for sagging sections, leaks, damaged gutter boards, or areas where water appears to be overflowing.
Gutter cleaning, sealing, repairs, replacements, and gutter guards can all help your drainage system handle fall rain and winter weather. And if you’re constantly cleaning leaves out of your gutters, installing gutter toppers or guards may be worth considering.
The goal isn’t just keeping your gutters looking clean. It’s keeping water where it belongs.
Take a Look at Your Siding and Soffits
Fall is a great time to walk around your home and look closely at the siding.
You don’t need to be an expert to spot something that looks different. Look for cracked, loose, warped, or missing siding, damaged soffits, or areas where moisture may be getting behind the exterior.
Depending on your home, repairs may involve vinyl siding, wood siding, or James Hardie siding. Smaller issues can sometimes be repaired before they turn into larger sections that need to be replaced.
The same goes for your soffits and fascia. Damaged or deteriorating areas can leave parts of your home’s exterior more vulnerable to moisture and pests over the winter.
Check Your Windows Before the Temperature Drops
You’ll definitely notice a drafty window once the temperature really drops.
Before that happens, check your windows for gaps, deteriorated caulking, damaged trim, or signs of moisture. Older windows may also have problems with the sash or surrounding wood that aren’t immediately obvious from inside the house.
Whether you have vinyl, wood, or composite windows, addressing exterior issues now can help prevent winter weather from making them worse.
And if you’re already noticing that a window is past the point of repair, fall can be a good time to consider replacement rather than heading into another winter with the same problem.
Give Your Porch and Railings a Once-Over
Your porch sees a lot of weather throughout the year, so it’s worth giving it a good inspection before winter.
Pay attention to loose or damaged railings, wobbly steps, deteriorating porch columns, and areas where the wood or other materials are showing signs of wear.
Depending on the style of your home, improvements could include fiberglass or aluminum porch columns, composite or wrought iron railings, new handrails, or rebuilding damaged steps.
And if your porch is still in good shape but could use a little updating, fall is also a great time to tackle projects like new lighting, ceiling fans, or an outdoor TV setup before next year’s outdoor season rolls around.
Don’t Forget the Deck
Your deck may be getting less use as the weather cools, but that doesn’t mean it should be forgotten.
Look for loose boards, damaged areas, soft spots, or other repairs that need attention. A thorough cleaning can also help you see problems that may have been hiding under dirt and buildup all summer.
Depending on the condition of the deck, fall maintenance might include pressure washing, staining, sealing, or repairing damaged sections.
Taking care of those projects before winter means you’re not starting next spring with a long list of repairs.
Check for Water Before Winter Finds It for You
One of the biggest reasons to do an exterior inspection in the fall is simple: water.
Look around windows, doors, siding, gutters, fascia, soffits, porches, and other areas where water could potentially get into the home. Pay attention to staining, soft or damaged materials, peeling paint, deteriorating caulk, or anything that looks out of place.
A small leak or opening may not seem like an emergency in September. After months of rain, snow, freezing, and thawing, it can become a much bigger issue.
If you’re not sure where a leak is coming from, a professional assessment can help identify the source before you start making repairs in the wrong place.
Make a Fall Exterior Checklist
If you’re not sure where to start, walk around your home with your phone and take pictures of anything that catches your attention.
Your fall checklist might include:
- Check doors and door frames for drafts, gaps, or damage
- Inspect windows and exterior caulking
- Clean and inspect gutters
- Look for damaged siding, soffits, and fascia
- Check porch columns, railings, steps, and handrails
- Inspect the deck for loose or damaged boards
- Look for signs of water intrusion
- Check exterior lighting
- Pressure wash and seal the driveway if needed
- Inspect fences for damage
- Look for areas that need aluminum wrapping or other weather protection
You don’t have to tackle everything at once. In fact, that’s the whole point of doing this in the fall. Find the problems while they’re still manageable.
Winter Will Be Here Before You Know It – Take Care of Your Outdoor Home Projects
The best time to discover an exterior problem isn’t when the first snow is already on the ground.
If you’ve been putting off that door replacement, gutter repair, deck project, siding repair, or porch improvement, fall is your last good opportunity to get it checked off the list before winter settles in.
A little maintenance now can go a long way toward protecting your home through the colder months and giving you a much shorter to-do list when spring comes back around.
Take one last lap around your house this fall. You might be surprised by what you’ve been overlooking.
If you find a project that needs attention, our team can help you determine what should be repaired, replaced, or simply monitored through the winter.