Fall edition, 1 of 3 · October 2026. This is the web version of Pete’s Seasonal Home Checklist, the once-a-month email. Get the next one by email.
October is the last comfortable month to work outside. Here is what I would do on my own house before the cold settles in, and what I would leave for spring.
Five things to do outside this month
- Walk the house and look at the caulk. Window and door perimeters, corner boards, trim joints. Caulk that has pulled away lets water in, and water that freezes behind paint pops it off by February. Cut out the failed bead and run a new one on a dry day above 50 degrees. Below that it will not cure.
- Give sun-facing doors a maintenance coat. If your front door or garage doors face south or west and the finish looks dull or chalky, one coat of varnish or enamel now saves stripping them in spring. It is the cheapest paint job on the house and the one most people skip. Front doors and garage doors both count.
- Get the leaves off the deck, then test it. Wet leaves stain and hold moisture against the boards. Sweep it, then pour a cup of water on a sunny spot. If it soaks in instead of beading, the deck needs a coat. Do not stain it now. Put it on the spring list; cold boards will not take stain evenly.
- Clean the gutters after the leaves drop. Overflowing gutters are the number one cause of peeling fascia and siding below them. One cleaning in early November, once the oaks finally let go, is worth more than any touch-up I can do.
- Move the painting inside. October through March is interior season. The air is dry, the paint cures well, and we are easier to schedule. Pick colors under lamp light, because that is how you will see them for the next five months.
Fifty-seven years in and the houses that look good are never the ones with the most expensive paint. They are the ones somebody walked around once a year. That is all this newsletter is: the walk around, with a few notes from me.
Three guides worth your time
The North Shore Exterior Painting Checklist: 14 Steps From Wash to Final Coat
Everything a lasting exterior paint job needs, in order. Washing, mildew, scraping, repairs, primer, caulk, paint quality, weather, and the mistakes that cause peeling by the second winter. Read the checklist.
When to Book Exterior Painting on the North Shore
Why the spring calendar fills in January, month by month, and how to get the slot you want. Read the guide.
Exterior Paint Colors for North Shore Homes
Tudors, colonials, brick, and cedar each want something different. Here is what holds up, with real houses. See the colors.
The Exterior Care Plan: one spring visit a year, and we keep the list for you
Wash, inspection, touch-ups, recaulking, and a photo report every spring, with your workmanship guarantee kept active for as long as you are on the plan. Billed once a year by check or invoice. No card on file. See plans and pricing.
Want a second set of eyes before winter?
Pete walks the house, tells you what can wait and what cannot, and puts it in writing. The visit is free and there is no pressure to book. Request a free estimate or call (847) 564-4880.
