Why Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist Should Include Exterior Painting
Exterior House Painting

Why Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist Should Include Exterior Painting

Posted on August 30, 2018

Fall is just around the corner, and that means the dash to complete those projects that improve your curb appeal, boost your home’s value, and (most importantly) protect your property all winter long, is in its last leg. You might be reluctant to invest in a new project with the cold weather fast approaching, but believe it or not, your home will actually be better served if you finish those projects sooner than later.

“Repairing broken stucco and peeling paint, as well as removing dirt and mildew from your home’s exterior will help protect your home during the winter months. These repairs are more than cosmetic; they protect your investment,” says Paige Nejame, co-owner of CertaPro Painters® of the South Shore and Boston, Massachusetts.

It can be hard to figure out what to prioritize as you put together your fall home maintenance checklist, so we’ve compiled some fall renovation ideas to spark your creativity and help you figure out what needs to get done. Check out this maintenance checklist that will update your home and keep you warm, cozy, and protected all winter long.

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist Must-Haves:

There are four major elements that could cause lasting damage to your home if you don’t prepare accordingly. As you organize fall home renovation checklist, make sure you prioritize them:

Weather damage: If parts of your home’s exterior are bare and exposed to the elements, this could cause extensive damage once winter weather hits. Repainting and making repairs protects your home’s exterior, and should be at the top of your list.

Dirt: As dirt and grime accumulate, they stain your exterior finish, making it look unkempt and unattractive. In addition, dirt can pit and otherwise negatively impact the finish, leaving your home susceptible to further damage. Add power washing to your fall checklist.

Mold and mildew: Mold and mildew will spread if the conditions are right, and cold, dark winter days can provide the state it needs to get into the building materials of your home. Cleaning and repainting or staining your home, deck, and patio should go on the list to both prevent and protect from mold and mildew.

Dilapidated exterior materials: Broken, crumbling stucco, peeling paint, or warped siding are more than just cosmetic issues. They can promote leakage underneath to the structure that is supporting your home.

Make a note to contact CertaPro Painters® to address these issues. Here’s how a CertaPro Painters® professional can help you complete your fall projects in the nick of time, giving you the peace of mind a protected home brings all winter long.

Power Washing

Power washing can remove mold, dirt, and other debris before the winter. The fall is the perfect time to get this completed: First, the rainiest season is over, which means there will be less soil splashing onto your home and outdoor living areas. Secondly, it isn’t yet too cold to safely leave surfaces wet.

All power washing projects are not the same; it would be a mistake to try to pressure wash your siding the same way you might pressure wash concrete, for example. Count on professionals to use the right type of equipment and technique depending on whether you need your wood, concrete, asphalt, brick, or aluminum siding cleaned.

Removing Peeling Paint

After the heat, rain, and humidity of summer have taken their toll on your home, you might notice peeling and flaking paint. Once the air dries out and winter’s cold weather descends on most of the country, that peeling paint can allow mildew to grow and dirt to accumulate underneath, damaging your home from the outside. In addition, winter’s winds can blow big flakes of paint right off of your home, leaving the appearance mottled and uneven.

Having your home’s exterior surfaces pressure washed and scraped will give your house painters a clean slate to work from. Removing that peeling paint now, before winter begins, will keep it off of your lawn and out of the air.

Painting And Staining

Have you checked your deck, patio, porch, shutters, and fence for damage? Summer’s sun, wind, and storms can wreak havoc on your outdoor finishes, making autumn a good time to have these items repainted or stained. You still have many weekends left to enjoy your outdoor living areas. You can dine al fresco well into the fall (who doesn’t enjoy those cozy evenings by the fire pit?), and, if the weather is mild, you could even host Thanksgiving on your patio or deck.

Your CertaPro Painters® professionals can help you decide whether your outdoor surfaces should be power washed, painted, or stained to keep them maintained throughout the winter. Mildew can make walking surfaces slippery and cause shutters and porch rails to look unkempt, so if it is beginning to be an issue, having these surfaces treated should be at the top of your autumn to-do list.

CertaPro Painters® Is Ready To Get Your Home Ready For Fall

As Paige says, “Many homeowners use the warm summer months to get their home repairs and renovations completed. If you didn’t get your projects completed this summer, the fall is the perfect time to wrap up those nagging checklist projects before winter weather arrives.” CertaPro Painters® is ready to take on your exterior painting, power washing, or staining projects now, before the cold winter weather blows in.

Fall is right around the corner! Don’t let winter sneak up on you without having protected your home with a completed fall home maintenance checklist. Contact CertaPro Painters® today for a free estimate to find out how we can help you get your home ready for the cozy days of fall.