A little maintenance, in the right season, prevents nearly every expensive exterior repair. Here's the calendar Coast Flow uses for South Coast homes.
Autumn (Mar–May) — the big one
Autumn is peak leaf-fall on the South Coast. Book gutter cleaning between late April and late May.
- Full gutter clean and downpipe flush
- Roof visual inspection for storm damage
- Check drains and stormwater pits before winter rain
- Book any gutter guard installs before winter
Winter (Jun–Aug) — storm and drainage focus
Wet-weather season. Prioritise anything drainage-related and monitor after big storms.
- Clear blocked drains and stormwater pits
- Check gutters after major storms
- Watch for water stains inside — early sign of a leak
Spring (Sep–Nov) — fire season prep
Before summer, get the home ready for bushfire season and clean up winter debris.
- Second annual gutter clean or visual inspection
- Ember mesh install or check for BAL-rated homes
- Solar panel clean and bird proofing check
- Roof soft wash if moss or lichen has grown over winter
Summer (Dec–Feb) — monitor and stay safe
Try not to book roof work in the hottest weeks unless urgent. Monitor and be ready.
- Have a fire plan and RFS app ready
- Keep 20m defensible space clear
- Book any autumn work early — spots fill up fast
Key takeaways
- Autumn = big gutter clean; spring = fire-season prep
- Book winter drainage checks before the first big storm
- Combine services on the same visit to save on call-out costs
- Two well-timed visits a year prevents most expensive exterior repairs