Auckland winters are consistently wet and grey, and that takes a toll on your home. A bit of maintenance in late autumn can prevent a lot of the problems that show up in June and July. Here is a practical list of what to check.
Clear your gutters
Blocked gutters are one of the most common causes of water damage in Auckland homes. Leaves, bark, seeds and grime build up over summer and once the rain hits properly, blocked gutters overflow and direct water against your fascia, walls and foundation. Clearing them out before winter is one of the highest-value maintenance tasks you can do.
Get the roof checked
Winter is not a great time to discover you have a leak. If your roof has not been looked at in a couple of years, get it done in autumn. Check the pointing on ridges and hips, look at any flashing around chimneys or skylights, and check for visible moss growth.
Sort the carpets before you close up the house
Getting your carpets professionally cleaned before winter makes sense. You are about to spend more time indoors with the windows closed. If your carpets are holding allergens or old spills, you will be breathing that in all winter. Carpets also dry faster in the warmer autumn air than in the middle of winter.
Check for pest entry points
Rats and mice move indoors as the temperature drops. Walk around your home and look for any gaps around pipes, holes in soffit boards, or gaps in the roofline. Any gap larger than about 10mm is wide enough for a mouse.
Wash down the exterior
Autumn is a good time for a house wash. Washing the walls, deck and paths before winter removes the organic matter that moss and mildew feed on, which means less growth through the wet season.
A simple autumn checklist
- Clear gutters and downpipes
- Check roof for damage, moss and pointing
- Professional carpet clean
- Check and seal any pest entry points
- House wash, deck and paths
- Check window seals and door weatherstripping
We do a lot of jobs in May and June from homeowners who wish they had got around to things in March. A bit of planning goes a long way.
If you want to knock several of these off the list in one go, get in touch and we can put together a package covering the house wash, roof treatment and carpet clean.