Anyone who’s tried to rake up leaves or plant some new seeds already knows exactly how frustrating it is to deal with a bit of rain. What was a simple and easy task that could have taken you 20 minutes max turns into a slushy, sodden hour of not getting very much done at all!
Rain really can ruin your plans for trying to keep your home’s exterior neat and tidy. It’s most annoying when you cleared your weekend so you could get through your DIY task list!
But there are some exterior maintenance jobs that really do require you to have clear skies and dry weather predictions. Even if you try to get them out of the way when it’s just spitting outside, you’re likely to find the task a whole lot more effortful than it needs to be!
So let’s try and make sure your exterior maintenance checklist is planned out properly. If you’ve got a few days coming up where no rain is expected at all, here’s a quick list of the jobs . Think about doing first while you’ve got the perfect conditions for them.
Add Another Stain Coat to Your Deck
If there’s a deck in your yard, dry and warmer weather are the right conditions for putting a new coat of varnish on top.
Decks tend to need these redoing every couple of years or so. This prevents their layers of protection from getting too thin. They’ll naturally erode over time due to both wear and tear from being used and from the elements. But with a new bit of staining, you can bring this protective coat right back.
And if you add it on when it’s not raining (nor meant to rain later on), the deck will have plenty of time to dry out properly as well.
Even if you have a hardier wood type in your yard, double check it’s not gotten too faded at this point!
Clean and Repair Your Guttering
All kinds of debris can get blown into gutters. There’s plenty that can start growing inside them too (think moss, for example).
If these things are left to clog the gutter, any rainfall that hits your roof won’t be able to drain away. That can cause a stagnant water build up, for one. It’s also quite dangerous for your home’s exterior health too.
If the water starts to leak out, it could drip into the building and cause all kinds of damage. As such, a check on your gutters and a spot of gutter cleaning are incredibly important right now!
And while you might not think that your gutters are much of a priority at the moment, they’re best to tackle when it’s dry outside and you’ve just been through a period of rain.
You want to give yourself the best possible chance to try and clear them out without any excess moisture turning the grime into slime while it tries to drain away at the same time!
Make Sure Your Garden Fencing is Stable
You don’t want it to be raining, with a full blown gale coming in behind it, only to realize that your fence panels are wobbling quite a lot while the weather passes over!
If that’s the case, you might just find that your fence gets blown down while the storm is still ongoing.
That’s not the kind of weather that’s conducive to fixing things up! You’ll need at least two pairs of hands to keep things still and fix the panels back in place.
Check on your fences while it’s dry with a light breeze going on. This way you can see where the weak points are without fighting against the elements!
For a temporary or emergency fix, you can always use bungee cords to keep any loose panels stable.
Wash and Grit Your Driveway
Washing down a driveway always comes with the best results when there’s no rain coming down. Rain sweeps away any of the soap you’ve just brushed onto it.
Let’s face it, rain water tends to be dirtier than the water we get from the sink or outside faucet! It can leave some very grubby marks on the surface as it all dries out. Then you’ll just have to start all over again.
Important: If you’re going to be using a pressure washer, hose, or more than a bucket’s worth of water for this, double check you’re not currently in the middle of a drought.
Even if there’s no water ban in place in your area, you certainly shouldn’t be wasting water while it’s too hot and dry for comfort!
As for adding grit to the surface:
If you’re going to be expecting some stormy weather soon enough, and you always have a slippery or slimy driveway the morning after, now’s the time to get some grit down!
You want to grit the surface before any weather has had the chance to make it too wet and cold for anything to properly stick.
And when it’s pre-gritted like this, you won’t have to waste any time prepping behind the wheels to try and get the car out in the morning.
Get Your Exterior Up to Scratch Without the Downpour!
Sometimes, you just shouldn’t head outside to get a bit of work done. Even if you really think you should.
Because even when this is the only chance you’ve got this week to try and clear out the gutters or give the roof its annual inspection, rain is just going to turn your efforts into a waste.
It might even make it dangerous to try and get the job done. That’s certainly not something you want to put yourself through!
So, when it comes to the tasks above, wait for the rain to pass. And if it is raining, head back inside, put your feet up, and enjoy a good hot cuppa. If it’s not, you can get out there and get to work!
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