Exterior upkeep for an older house through the year

Regular upkeep keeps an older house's original materials from wearing out. Check the outside from the roof down to the foundation, one side of the house at a time, and write down every problem to fix or watch. Look again after any severe rainstorm or unusually high winds. These intervals suit a climate with four seasons and moderate rain. In a drier climate or a harsher one, adjust it.

Spring

• Look at the roof and chimneys from the groundBinoculars show loose or missing roofing, loose flashing at the chimney and dormers, and biological growth, without a ladder.
• Check the outside walls and porchesLook for peeling paint, wood rot, loose decorative trim and cracks, before the summer painting season.
• Check the windowsLook for loose frames and sash, slipped sills, cracked glass, missing glazing putty, peeling paint and decayed joints. The horizontal parts of frames wear fastest.
• Check the doorsLook for sagging doors that drag on the threshold, loose hardware, worn weatherstripping and tipped or cupped thresholds.
• Look at the foundation and the ground around itLook for low spots or ground sloping toward the house, standing water after rain, and soil closer than 6 inches to wood siding.

Through the wet seasons

• Watch the gutters and downspouts in heavy rainFrom the ground, check that water runs into the gutters and out the downspouts, not over the edges. Do this before and after the wet season, at least every 6 months.
• Check the splash blocks and downspout endsReset splash blocks and add extenders where water lands near the foundation.
• Look for moss, mold or mildew at the base of the wallsDamp patches often trace to a clogged gutter, a poorly placed splash block, poor grading or an in-ground sprinkler system.
• Look indoors for leaks after a big stormLooking from inside helps find where the roof or walls are letting water in.

Fall and winter

• Check the chimneys before the heating seasonFrom the ground, look for loose bricks, open joints and loose flashing. Chimney repairs go to a professional.
• Check the doors again before the heating seasonDoors get a look twice a year, in spring and fall.
• Walk the perimeter once the leaves are downWith the trees bare, it's easier to see the walls and the foundation.
• Trim plants back from the foundationLeave room for air to dry the walls, and pull out climbing vine roots. Keep mower and trimmer blades off the foundation.
• Keep mulch away from the foundationMulch against the house can hold moisture, draw termites and change the slope of the ground.

Booked work

• Book a yearly termite inspectionHave a licensed company treat any infestation.
• Have a roofer inspect the roof up close every 5 yearsClose-up roof work and most roof repairs go to a roofer.
• Have a mason inspect the chimneys every 5 yearsRepointing and chimney repairs go to a mason.

For the mortar, see Mortar joints and repointing brick.