Rain, Rain, Here to Stay: Exterior Home Maintenance for Fall
There’s something to love about every season in the PNW, but personally my favorite time around Tacoma is fall. I love the cooler temps and the drizzle. Crunching through leaves becomes my life’s work. Our beaches and parks get less crowded, but stay just as beautiful. I could live in September and October all year round.
But from a home maintenance perspective, our fall conditions are far from ideal, and a lot of it comes down to the rain. Here are some things to consider for your house as we prepare for our famous rainy days:
Wet conditions bring the moss out of dormancy. Mossy patches that may have been pretty quiet all summer will find new life in the drizzle and will begin to grow. Windy conditions will also spread moss spores, so a few isolated patches can quickly become a whole carpet on your roof or hardscape.
More rain means more chances for your roof to leak. Roofs that are cluttered with moss or debris will be more prone to leaking as the moss lifts the seams apart and the debris retain water that will sit and soak against your shingles.
All that water needs somewhere to go, and if your gutters are clogged then your house won’t be able to properly drain the drops away. Overflowing gutters can cause water to pool against your foundation and lead to all kinds of problems (check out our post “What Happens If You Don’t Ever Clean Your Gutters” for more on this).
Dingy hardscape will be more slippery in wet conditions than clean hardscape is. This is caused by decreased friction on mossy, muddy, or built-up surfaces. These grubby areas will also retain more water and be more prone to icing. If your decking, driveway, pavers, walkways, or stairs are covered in creeping green or black stains, please tread carefully!
More rain does mean less sunshine. Make sure you are ready to let in all of the warmth and golden light that you can by having clean windows and screens. Dust and dirt accumulated on your glass will make your house darker and may cost you more on your energy bills.
Don’t let home maintenance concerns ruin your fall vibes! You can sit by the fire with your favorite coffee and Beautiful Day will take care of your house. Here are some timely services that you might consider to tackle any trouble spots all in one fell swoop:
Deluxe Roof Tune-Up: This service hits the practical notes of removing debris from your roof and clogs from your gutters, while treating any moss infestations on your shingles. The “Deluxe” part comes from the aesthetic side of also having the gutter and downspout exteriors scrubbed free of all stains, and blowing off your walkways and other surfaces that may have collected debris during the cleaning process.
Pressure Washing: Watch your hardscape get a refresh as we scrape off heavy moss and weed build up, collect any debris, and pressure wash concrete areas to remove leftover moss, organic staining, dirt and grime. Your hardscape will be left clean and sparkling, ready for maximum traction in wet conditions.
Ultimate Window Cleaning: This is our window cleaning service that hits every nook and cranny. We clean your windows inside and out, wash your screens, scrub out your window tracks, and wipe down the frames and sills for a spotless shine on any surface that could even vaguely be associated with your windows.
We can work with your budget and are happy to customize your visit so you get just the services you need in just the right combination.
