The Annual Home Exterior Maintenance Checklist Every Sydney Homeowner Needs

Summer is peak solar generation season, it's also when your panels accumulate the most dust, pollen, and bird fouling. A clean in early December sets you up for maximum output through the hottest months.

• Solar panels: Clean in early December before peak generation season. Check for bird nesting activity and consider mesh installation if birds are present.
• Gutters: Check for overflow after any big storm. Summer storms can dump a season's worth of debris in one afternoon. If you're under gum trees, a mid-summer clear after the bark drop is worth it.
• Windows: Coastal homes should rinse exterior glass after storm events to remove salt deposits. Check sprinkler heads are not hitting glass surfaces.
• Roof: Check visually (from the ground, binoculars are helpful) for lifted tiles, cracked ridge capping, or debris build-up in valleys after storm season.

Autumn is when the storm season has just finished and the leaf drop starts. Homes with trees over the roof should get their gutters cleared now so they're not carrying a full season of debris into winter rain. Homes with little tree cover can usually wait for the spring clean.

• Gutters: Autumn clean in April or May for homes with trees near the roof. Clear the debris before winter rain arrives and flush any blocked downpipes.
• Windows: Great time for a full professional window clean, the pollen season has finished, the summer heat has eased, and conditions are ideal for a streak-free result.
• Exterior walls: Check for mould or lichen growth, particularly on south-facing walls that stay damp. Early treatment prevents deeper penetration into render and brickwork.
• Seals and flashings: Inspect window and door seals, roof flashings, and expansion joints for cracking. Winter rain will exploit any gaps.

Sydney's winters are mild but wet. The gutters you cleaned in autumn will be working hard. Winter is also the time when mould, moss, and algae growth accelerates on damp exterior surfaces.

• Gutters: Visual check after heavy rain for overflow. If trees overhang your gutters, a mid-winter clean may be needed. Look for new signs of sagging or bracket stress.
• Roof and valleys: After the first significant rain event, check your ceiling and roof cavity space (if accessible) for any signs of water ingress. Winter is when roof leaks reveal themselves.
• Solar panels: Output naturally drops in winter due to shorter days, but check for bird nesting activity, which tends to increase as birds seek shelter from the cold.
• Driveways and paths: Winter damp accelerates algae and moss growth on concrete and pavers. These become slip hazards. Note areas that need attention for a spring pressure clean.

Spring is the most active maintenance season, storm season is approaching, pollen is flying, and everything needs to be ready for the heat and heavy rain ahead. This is the time to get everything in order.

• Gutters: The most important clean of the year. Book it in September, before the Bush Fire Danger Period starts on 1 October and before the storm season that runs October to March. The RFS lists clearing gutters among its top steps to prepare a home, because embers land in dry leaf litter.
• Solar panels: Spring clean before the pollen season peaks. Also the ideal time to install bird proofing if you've noticed nesting activity, before the breeding season is in full swing.
• Windows: Professional clean in late October or November, after the last pollen event and before the Christmas period when everyone wants the home looking its best.
• Driveways, paths, and decks: Pressure clean concrete, pavers, and timber decking to remove the winter's algae and mould build-up. Treat timber with appropriate oil or sealant after cleaning.
• Exterior walls: Wash down rendered and painted surfaces to remove winter's accumulated mould, pollution, and dust. Any paint or render cracking spotted in winter should be repaired before the summer humidity arrives.