It happens most winters. The first long storm comes through overnight, and by morning water is pouring over the front of a gutter.

Why? Usually leaves. They filled the gutter in November and nobody looked until it rained.

Our winter prep visit looks first. Six checks, before the heavy rain. Rather do the rounds yourself? Here’s our yearly checklist.

Check01

Gutters and downspouts

Where the first storm usually spills over.

A black gutter along a stone wall, filled with dry brown leaves under a large evergreen tree
A gutter along a mossy roof edge with ferns growing out of the debris inside it
A brown metal downspout ending just above a rough granite block
Rain running off a clay tile roof into the gutter below it

01 Ferns in a clogged gutter 02 A downspout above a stone base 03 Rain running off tiles into a gutter

We check every gutter run and downspout, and clean them as needed. Each downspout should run clear and empty away from the foundation.

At a glance

Who
Our crew
When
After the leaves drop, before the rain
Goes to a partner
Nothing
More
Where water gets in · Gutter guards

Check02

Roof debris

Wet leaves hold water against a roof.

Fallen autumn leaves scattered across a wood shingle roof, yellow trees behind
Twigs, rotting leaves and small green seedlings along the worn edge of a low roof
Green moss and pine needles on gray weathered roof shingles
A wooden ladder leaning against an eave, a brown shingled house with white windows behind

01 Debris and seedlings at the roof edge 02 Moss and needles on shingles 03 A ladder set against the eave

Our crew goes up and clears it all: the valleys, behind the chimney, along the eaves. If we find a cracked shingle, lifted flashing or a small leak, our crew can repair it.

At a glance

Who
Our crew, on the roof
When
Before the first big storm
Goes to a partner
A new roof or anything structural, to a licensed roofer we bring in
More
Roof inspections

Check03

Drainage

The water has to get away from the house.

Green leaves caught under a cast iron drain grate set in concrete
A rusted square drain grate in a flagstone patio, weeds growing up through the bars
Rainwater running along a curb into a street drain grate, twigs caught at its edge
A backyard in heavy rain, water pooling across the lawn and patio

01 Weeds growing through a patio drain 02 Rainwater running into a curb drain 03 Water pooling across a backyard

We check the area drains, their grates, the outlets and the low spots where water sits. Our crew clears the drains and grates we can reach.

At a glance

Who
Our crew
When
Before the ground is soaked
Goes to a partner
A buried line that stays clogged, to a drainage contractor. Ponding, regrading or a new drainage design, to a civil engineer

Check04

Sump pump

If you have one, it gets a test run.

Water running out of a metal pipe and down a dark brick wall
A galvanized bucket filled to the brim under an old outdoor faucet, hills blurred behind
Water spilling from the open end of a pipe onto gravel in low sunlight
An unfinished basement with exposed joists, a water heater, pipes and a concrete floor

01 A bucket filled at an outdoor tap 02 Water spilling from a pipe end 03 Pipes in an unfinished basement

We pour water into the pit, watch the pump run and follow the discharge line to see where the water goes.

At a glance

Who
Our crew
When
Before the first long storm
Goes to a partner
Pump repairs, to a licensed plumber. A dead outlet, to a licensed electrician
More
Is your sump pump ready? · Basements and crawlspaces

Check05

Water intrusion

A leak leaves small signs first.

Spreading water stains across a painted ceiling
Gray weathered wood lap siding with dark water stains along the board edges
A white divided light window with cracked, flaking paint on the sash above the sill
Cracked white glazing and paint on a window muntin, condensation on the panes

01 Dark stains along lap siding 02 Paint cracking above a window sill 03 Cracked glazing on a window

We look for visible signs of leaks and moisture: open caulk joints, swollen trim, a stain under a window, a musty room. It’s a visual check. We don’t open walls.

At a glance

Who
Our crew
When
While it’s still dry
Goes to a partner
Nothing on the visit
More
How we trace a hidden leak

Check06

Exterior maintenance

What needs work before winter, and what can wait.

White lap siding with a double hung window beside a white door
White clapboard siding and window trim with paint peeling away in large flakes
Diagonal deck boards with dark stain worn through to bare gray wood
A round louvered vent on a white stucco wall, its slats bent

01 Paint peeling from siding and trim 02 Stain wearing off deck boards 03 Bent louvers on a wall vent

Last, we walk the outside and point out what needs work before the winter weather: failing paint, a soft deck board, a torn vent screen, a branch over the roof.

At a glance

Who
Our crew
When
The end of the visit
Goes to a partner
A job outside our trades, to a licensed trade we bring in
More
Annual Maintenance Program

We’re booking winter visits now. Request a visit or call (650) 961-7415.

Written by McDermaid Restoration & Remodeling, a family run painting and remodeling company on the Bay Area Peninsula.