The majority of expensive home repair bills trace back to deferred maintenance — things that were noticed or could have been noticed, but weren't acted on. The good news is that the most valuable maintenance tasks are generally simple, cheap, and need doing only once or twice a year. The checklist below is organised seasonally, because timing genuinely matters: clearing gutters in October before winter is substantially more valuable than clearing them in January after the damage is done.
How to use this checklist
Work through each season as it arrives. The tasks marked High priority should be treated as non-negotiable. Medium priority tasks matter but have a wider timing window. Low priority tasks are worth doing but won't cause immediate problems if deferred.
Spring — March to May
Post-winter assessment. Identify anything the cold season has damaged.
Inspect roof from ground level
Look for any tiles that appear displaced, cracked or missing after winter storms. Low angle morning light makes disruptions in the roofline easier to spot.
High
Clear gutters of winter debris
Spring seed and blossom accumulation blocks gutters quickly. Clear downpipes and check joints for any frost damage sustained over winter.
High
Check external walls for frost damage
Freeze-thaw cycles cause mortar joints to crack and spall. Walk the perimeter and look for fresh cracking or areas where mortar has dropped out.
Medium
Inspect window and door seals
Check sealant around frames for cracking or shrinkage. Failed sealant is a common cause of water ingress that's easy and cheap to fix.
Medium
Check loft space for signs of ingress
Take a torch into the loft and look for water staining on timbers, insulation, or the underside of the roof deck. Any daylight visible is a red flag.
High
Inspect external paintwork and timber
Check fascias, soffits, window frames and external doors for paint failure or visible softness that might indicate early rot.
Low
Summer — June to August
The best season for remedial work. Dry conditions make access and repairs easier.
Commission any identified repairs
Summer is the optimal time for roof repairs, repointing, and exterior painting. Dry weather means work can proceed faster and materials cure properly.
High
Treat moss on roof slopes
If moss growth was identified in spring, summer is the right time to treat it. Dry conditions allow treatment products to work effectively.
Medium
Repaint or re-treat external timber
Fascias, soffits, window frames and external doors. Warm dry conditions are essential for paint adhesion and curing.
Low
Check and reseal around roof penetrations
Soil pipes, aerial cables, and any other penetrations through the roof covering. Silicone sealants degrade with UV and may need renewal.
Medium
Book your annual ROOST drone check
Late summer catches end-of-season UV damage on south-facing slopes and any biological growth that's established over the damp season.
Medium
Autumn — September to November
The most important maintenance season. Prepare for winter before it arrives.
Clear gutters thoroughly after leaf fall
The single most important maintenance task of the year. Do this in late October or early November, after the majority of leaves have fallen. Clear both gutters and downpipes.
High
Annual ROOST exterior home health check
Optimal timing — identifies anything needing attention before winter, while there's still time to arrange repairs before Christmas.
High
Check chimney flashings and pointing
Chimney problems are the most common source of winter leaks. Any visible deterioration should be addressed before sustained winter rainfall.
High
Inspect and clear air bricks
Air bricks provide underfloor ventilation. Blocked air bricks cause condensation and rot in suspended timber floors. Clear any debris or vegetation.
Medium
Commission any outstanding repairs
Last reasonable window before winter for external works. Most roofers and pointing contractors won't work in wet or frosty conditions.
High
Winter — December to February
Monitor rather than maintain. Act quickly if problems appear.
Check ceilings after heavy rain events
Walk through upper rooms after any significant rainfall. New staining or damp patches require prompt investigation — don't wait until spring.
High
Check gutters are draining during rain
Step outside during heavy rain and observe. Overflow at the gutter edge, dripping at joints, or water running down the wall all indicate problems.
Medium
Inspect roof after significant storms
After any storm with winds above 50mph, look for displaced tiles or debris from the roof. Address any findings before the next weather system arrives.
High
Monitor west-facing walls for damp
Check internal surfaces of west-facing walls in sustained driving rain conditions. Early detection of penetrating damp is far cheaper to treat than established damp.
Medium
The pattern across all four seasons is consistent: the most valuable maintenance habit is regular observation. You don't need specialist knowledge to notice that a ceiling looks different than it did last month, that your gutters are overflowing in a way they didn't before, or that there's a tile on the driveway that was on the roof yesterday. What matters is looking.