Guide · Printable
Homeowner exterior maintenance checklist
A simple walk-around routine that catches most exterior problems before they become expensive. Built for Middle Tennessee homes — humidity, shade, and freeze-thaw shape what's on the list.
Printable checklist
Print this page and keep it near the back door for your monthly walk-around.
Most exterior problems get expensive because they went unnoticed for a season or two. A five-minute walk-around every month, plus a longer look every quarter, catches almost everything early — while it's still a wash or a caulk bead instead of a repair.
Monthly — a five-minute walk-around
Do these once a month, ideally after a heavy rain when problems are easiest to see.
- Walk the full perimeter of the house — look up at the siding and gutters on each elevation.
- Check for green tint or black spotting on siding, especially north-facing walls and areas under trees.
- Look at gutter downspouts — are they draining onto splash blocks or into the foundation?
- Scan the driveway and walkways for new oil drips, algae film, or heavy pollen mats.
- Check outdoor faucets and hose bibs for drips or persistent damp spots on siding underneath.
- Look at the deck or porch — soft spots underfoot, loose boards, popped nail heads.
Quarterly — inspection with a closer look
Every three months, spend 20–30 minutes with a ladder (safely) or binoculars.
- Clear gutters of debris (or schedule someone who does gutter cleanouts — that's a service I refer out).
- Check downspout extensions are still directing water away from the foundation.
- Inspect exterior caulk at windows, doors, and where dissimilar materials meet — flag any cracked or missing beads.
- Look at siding seams and J-channel for gaps that could let water in behind the siding.
- Check deck fasteners — tighten any loose screws, replace any popped nails with screws.
- Walk the fence line — flag any leaning posts, rot at ground contact, or loose pickets.
- Test GFCI outlets on outdoor receptacles.
Annual — deep clean and reset
Book these once a year. Spring (March–May) or fall (September–October) is best in Middle Tennessee.
- Whole-house soft wash — siding, soffits, fascia, downspouts.
- Driveway and walkway surface-clean, with a soft-wash pre-treat if algae is present.
- Wood deck wash — light annual cleaning to knock back mildew and extend the life of the stain.
- Fence wash — annual for wood, annual for vinyl.
- Gutter face brightening if tiger stripes are visible from the street.
- Re-stain or re-seal wood surfaces on their own cycle — decks every 2–3 years, fences every 3–5.
- Trim trees and shrubs back 3–5 feet from siding and off the roof edge.
Signs it's time to call a pro
None of these are DIY territory — get someone with the right training and equipment.
- Soft spots on a deck or noticeably springy boards — structural issue, not just cosmetic.
- Mortar joints eroding or crumbling on brick — needs tuckpointing, not a wash.
- Interior water stains on ceilings or exterior walls after rain — water is getting in somewhere; wait on the wash and find the source first.
- Gutter tiger stripes that won't come off with normal washing — needs a proper brightener.
- Roof algae streaks (black vertical lines) — needs a specialized soft-wash roofing service, which I refer out.
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