Winter is often thought of as the off season for exterior maintenance, the time when nothing much happens to the outside of your home until spring. In reality, the cold, wet months are some of the hardest on a home’s exterior, and the damage they do tends to happen quietly, out of sight, until it shows up as a bigger problem later. Knowing what winter does to your home, and what to keep an eye on, helps you head into the season prepared rather than surprised.
Why is winter hard on a home’s exterior?
Winter combines several things that work against your home at once. It is the wettest, dampest stretch of the year, with rain and the occasional freeze keeping surfaces wet for long periods. The days are short and the sun is low, so surfaces that get wet do not dry out quickly. And when temperatures drop below freezing, any water that has collected in the wrong place expands as it freezes, which is where a lot of winter damage comes from.
Put together, this means moisture sits on and around your home longer in winter than at any other time, and sustained moisture is what causes the most trouble for exterior surfaces.
What should I watch for on my gutters in winter?
Gutters are the single most important thing to keep an eye on heading into winter. If they are clogged with fall leaves and debris, water cannot drain, so it overflows against the foundation and backs up at the roofline. In freezing temperatures, that trapped water freezes, and the weight and expansion can bend gutters, pull them loose, and force water under the roof edge.
Clogged gutters going into winter are the setup for some of the most expensive seasonal damage, foundation moisture, fascia rot, and roof edge problems. Clearing them before the cold sets in is the most valuable thing you can do for your home’s exterior this time of year.
What does winter moisture do to my siding and walls?
Siding and exterior walls stay damp longer in winter because they do not get the sun and warmth to dry out. Any biological growth already on the shaded sides, the north and east facing walls, stays active and holds moisture against the surface through the wettest months. That sustained dampness is what, over time, contributes to wear and deterioration of siding, trim, and the wood underneath.
Winter is also when moisture is most likely to find its way into small gaps and cracks, and if it freezes there, the expansion widens them. Keeping walls clean and clear of moisture holding growth before winter reduces how much of this happens.
What about my driveway, walkways, and steps?
Concrete surfaces face two winter issues. The first is slipperiness. Algae and organic film on walkways and steps become dangerously slick when wet or frozen, and winter brings plenty of both. A slippery walkway or set of front steps is a real safety hazard in the cold months, especially in the dark mornings and evenings.
The second is freeze damage. Water that soaks into porous concrete and then freezes expands, and over repeated freeze and thaw cycles this can worsen cracks and surface damage. Concrete that goes into winter clean and in good shape handles the season better than concrete carrying buildup and standing moisture.
Does my roof need attention before winter?
If your roof has visible algae streaks or collected debris, winter is not kind to it. The growth holds moisture against the shingles through the wettest season, and debris in the valleys traps water that can back up under the shingles, especially if it freezes. A roof that heads into winter clean and clear is better protected against the moisture and freeze stress the season brings.
What is the smart way to prepare?
Heading into winter, the priorities for most Raleigh area homes are straightforward. Clear the gutters of fall debris so water drains freely, the single most important step. Clear leaves and debris off the roof and out of the valleys. And address any heavy moisture holding growth on siding, walkways, and steps so your home is not carrying a layer of dampness through the coldest, wettest months.
Getting these handled before the deep cold sets in means your home goes into winter in good shape rather than accumulating quiet damage through the season.
If you want to get your home’s exterior ready for winter, now is a sensible time to clear the gutters and address any buildup before the cold settles in. And since gutters are the top winter priority, P2 is running a fall gutter cleaning special, $25 off when you book before November 30. We serve Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Garner, and the greater Wake County area.
Schedule Pressure Washing in the Greater Raleigh Area for gutter cleaning, house washing, roof cleaning, and full exterior cleaning throughout the Triangle.
Learn more about our Residential Pressure Washing services at https://p2wash.com/residential/
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Get a Free Estimate or Book a Cleaning Today with P2 Pressure Washing. Call 919 893 3399.
