Spring Exterior Cleaning Checklist for Lower Mainland Homes
A Lower Mainland winter leaves a mark on the outside of a house: algae on the north walls, moss creeping across the roof and walkways, gutters full of the last of the leaves, and a green film over everything shaded. Spring is the natural time to reset it all before summer.
Here is a practical checklist, in a sensible order, of what is worth doing outside each spring.
Start at the top and work down
There is a reason pros clean top-down: growth and grime rinse downward, so cleaning the roof and gutters before the walls and walkways means you are not re-dirtying finished surfaces. Start with the roof and gutters, then the house, then the hard surfaces at ground level.
Working in that order also lets you spot problems early. Clearing the gutters, for instance, often reveals the roof moss or fascia staining that is worth dealing with in the same visit.
The spring checklist
Here is what is worth working through, roughly in order:
- Roof: soft-wash off the winter's moss and algae before it thickens
- Gutters and downspouts: clear the last of the leaves and flush so they drain for spring rain
- Siding: soft wash the algae film, worst on the shaded and north-facing walls
- Windows: clear winter grime and the coming pollen, screens and sills included
- Driveway, walkways and stairs: pressure wash the moss and slip hazard off
- Deck and fence: clean the algae, and re-stain if the finish is due
- Patio and outdoor living areas: reset them before the entertaining season
What to prioritise if you cannot do it all
If the budget or time only stretches so far, prioritise safety and protection first: the walkways and stairs where winter moss is a genuine slip hazard, and the gutters that protect the house from the next round of rain. After that, the house wash gives the biggest visual lift for the money.
Bundling several of these into one visit is far cheaper than booking them separately, since the crew and equipment are already set up. A quick walkaround or a few photos are enough for a free quote on a spring package.
