Hurricane season runs June through November in South Florida, and your home's exterior has a role to play on both ends of it. A little cleaning before the season and some cleanup after a storm protects the property and your wallet.
Before the season: clear the drainage
The single most useful thing you can do is make sure water has somewhere to go. Clogged gutters and downspouts back water up under the roofline and against the walls during heavy rain, which is where water damage starts. Clearing them before the first big storm is cheap insurance.
It is also a good time to clean the roof and walls, so you head into the season from a clean baseline. Growth that is already established before a storm comes back faster afterward.
After a storm: deal with the mess early
Once it is safe, storms leave behind a predictable list: mud splash up the walls, leaf and debris stains on driveways and walkways, grime across screen enclosures, and within a week or two, a bloom of algae feeding on all that moisture and organic debris.
Cleaning it sooner rather than later matters, because leaf tannin and organic stains set into porous surfaces the longer they sit. A driveway cleaned the week after a storm comes back easily. The same driveway left for two months holds the stains.
The bigger picture
Storm cleanup is pressure washing on the hard surfaces and soft washing on the walls, roof, and screens, matched to each surface. If your property took a beating this season, send photos through the quote form and we will sort out what needs what.
Common Questions
What exterior cleaning helps before a storm?
Clearing gutters and downspouts so water drains instead of backing up, and cleaning roofs and walls so you start from a known-good baseline. Loose debris and clogged drainage are what cause water damage in a storm.
What needs cleaning after a hurricane?
Storm grime, mud splash, leaf and debris stains, and the algae bloom that follows all the moisture. Driveways, walkways, walls, and screen enclosures usually need attention once it is safe.
Why does everything turn green after a storm?
A storm leaves surfaces soaked and coats them in organic debris, which is exactly what algae needs to take off. The humid days after a storm accelerate the growth.