Can exterior cleaning be done in winter?

Clearing and pressure work can be, in suitable weather. Softwash treatments need dry conditions to dwell, so full wall and roof cleans are usually better in a settled spell or in spring.

When should gutters be cleared for winter?

After the leaves have finished falling but before the wet weather sets in properly, which in Devon usually means November.

What can I do about a slippery path now?

A treatment for the algae is the proper fix. It is safer and longer lasting than repeated scrubbing or grit alone.

Is a damp patch inside after a storm a cleaning problem?

No, but noting exactly where and when it appears helps identify the water path, which is often a blocked gutter or a failed seal.

Winter Exterior Maintenance Checklist

Winter in this part of Devon is less about ice than about relentless wet and the occasional serious blow off the Channel. Both find weaknesses. The jobs that prevent winter damage are small, cheap and almost entirely about water: making sure it gets away from the building quickly and does not sit anywhere it should not. This checklist is what we would work through on our own houses, in the order it is worth doing, along with what to look at during winter rather than only before it.

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Clear the gutters before the storms, not after

Autumn leaf fall plus roof moss makes for a full gutter by November. A blocked run in a winter downpour puts water down the wall for hours at a time, and that saturated wall stays wet until spring. Clearing after the leaves have finished falling but before the weather sets in is the single highest-value job on this list, and it includes proving the downpipes actually drain.

This guide sits under our Gutter Cleaning & Clearing work, covering 20-mile radius of Plymouth.

Check the ground-level drainage

Gullies at the base of downpipes silt up and back up. Channel drains across a drive fill with grit. Soakaways stop soaking. Lift the grates, clear them, and pour a bucket of water down each one to see what happens. Water that cannot get away ends up against the wall base or across the paving where it will freeze.

Deal with slippery paving before somebody falls

Green algae on steps, paths and shaded patio areas is the most likely cause of an actual injury at a domestic property in winter. Treating it in autumn keeps the surface safe through the worst months. Pay particular attention to the front path, the threshold and any steps, which are usually shaded and usually the least maintained.

Look along the roof edge

From the ground with binoculars or a phone zoom, check for slipped or lifted tiles, missing ridge mortar, damaged verge, loose flashing at chimneys and abutments, and gutter sections that have dropped. Small defects found in October are cheap. The same defects found in February after a gale are usually accompanied by an interior repair.

Move what is leaning against the walls

Log piles, bin stores, ladders, garden furniture and stacked pots against a wall keep it damp all winter and leave a permanent mark. Pull everything off the wall by a hand's width and the air can move. It is a five-minute job with a visible payoff by spring.

Protect what freezes

Outside taps, exposed pipework and any standing water in containers are the usual casualties. Lag what you can, drain what you can, and empty anything that will crack. On a patio, standing water in a low spot freezes and lifts jointing, which is worth noting as something to correct in the spring.

Watch the exposed elevation during winter

The prevailing wet in this area comes onto the south-west face, so that is where driving rain gets into cracks, past failed pointing and around window reveals. If you see a new damp patch inside on that side after a storm, note where and when. That information makes the summer repair much easier to diagnose.

What to leave until spring

Softwash treatments need dry conditions to dwell and will be rinsed off by winter rain, so a full wall or roof clean is usually better postponed unless a settled dry spell appears. The same goes for sealing and painting. Winter is for clearing, checking and safety; spring is for cleaning and coating.

Reader note: Winter checklist for the outside of your house

Owner preparing a property for winter weather.

Clear the gutters before the storms, not after: Autumn leaf fall plus roof moss makes for a full gutter by November. A blocked run in a winter downpour puts water down the wall for hours at a time, and that saturated wall stays wet until spring. Clearing after the leaves have finished falling but before the weather sets in is the single highest-value job on this list, and it includes proving the downpipes actually drain. Check the ground-level drainage: Gullies at the base of downpipes silt up and back up. Channel drains across a drive fill with grit. Soakaways stop soaking. Lift the grates, clear them, and pour a bucket of water down each one to see what happens. Water that cannot get away ends up against the wall base or across the paving where it will freeze. Deal with slippery paving before somebody falls: Green algae on steps, paths and shaded patio areas is the most likely cause of an actual injury at a domestic property in winter. Treating it in autumn keeps the surface safe through the worst months. Pay particular attention to the front path, the threshold and any steps, which are usually shaded and usually the least maintained. Look along the roof edge: From the ground with binoculars or a phone zoom, check for slipped or lifted tiles, missing ridge mortar, damaged verge, loose flashing at chimneys and abutments, and gutter sections that have dropped. Small defects found in October are cheap. The same defects found in February after a gale are usually accompanied by an interior repair. Move what is leaning against the walls: Log piles, bin stores, ladders, garden furniture and stacked pots against a wall keep it damp all winter and leave a permanent mark. Pull everything off the wall by a hand's width and the air can move. It is a five-minute job with a visible payoff by spring. Protect what freezes: Outside taps, exposed pipework and any standing water in containers are the usual casualties. Lag what you can, drain what you can, and empty anything that will crack. On a patio, standing water in a low spot freezes and lifts jointing, which is worth noting as something to correct in the spring. Watch the exposed elevation during winter: The prevailing wet in this area comes onto the south-west face, so that is where driving rain gets into cracks, past failed pointing and around window reveals. If you see a new damp patch inside on that side after a storm, note where and when. That information makes the summer repair much easier to diagnose. What to leave until spring: Softwash treatments need dry conditions to dwell and will be rinsed off by winter rain, so a full wall or roof clean is usually better postponed unless a settled dry spell appears. The same goes for sealing and painting. Winter is for clearing, checking and safety; spring is for cleaning and coating.

Questions we get on this

Can exterior cleaning be done in winter?: Clearing and pressure work can be, in suitable weather. Softwash treatments need dry conditions to dwell, so full wall and roof cleans are usually better in a settled spell or in spring.
When should gutters be cleared for winter?: After the leaves have finished falling but before the wet weather sets in properly, which in Devon usually means November.
What can I do about a slippery path now?: A treatment for the algae is the proper fix. It is safer and longer lasting than repeated scrubbing or grit alone.
Is a damp patch inside after a storm a cleaning problem?: No, but noting exactly where and when it appears helps identify the water path, which is often a blocked gutter or a failed seal.

If this describes your situation

Book gutters and a path treatment before winter and get the two jobs done in one visit.

Send photos for a quote Gutter Cleaning & Clearing Call 07830 242403

Winter checklist for the outside of your house