The most important step to winterize a Tulsa home's exterior is clearing the gutters, because ice storms turn a clogged gutter into damage. Most Oklahoma winter days are mild, but freezing rain can coat trees, power lines, and gutters with heavy ice in a single night.
Here is the fall checklist, in order of what matters most, with what you can do yourself and what is worth hiring out.
1. Clear the gutters before the first ice storm
Clean gutters carry meltwater away from your foundation during every thaw. A gutter packed with wet leaves does the opposite: it freezes into a heavy block, stops draining, and can pull away from the house under the weight of ice.
Time the cleaning for after most of your leaves are down. Hydra Total Care gutter cleaning starts at $249, or $200 for customers 55 and over, with downspouts flushed and debris hauled away.
2. Wash off summer stains
A fall soft wash cleans off the algae and mildew stains that built up over the summer, so they don't sit on the siding through months of damp, shaded winter weather. Tulsa's humid summers leave a green or black film on north-facing walls, and the house heads into spring cleaner if that film comes off in the fall.
Washes are scheduled on days above freezing, so rinse water doesn't ice on walkways. House washes start at $299, and most Tulsa homes fall between $299 and $799.
3. Clean and seal decks and fences
Clean and seal wood decks and fences before winter if water no longer beads on the boards, because bare wood absorbs moisture that freezes and thaws all season. That cycle speeds up cracking and graying.
Seal on a mild, dry fall day so the sealer can cure. Hydra Total Care deck and fence washing start at $125, with sealing available after cleaning.
4. Handle the small jobs yourself
- Disconnect garden hoses and drain them so outdoor faucets don't freeze
- Cover outdoor faucets with insulated covers before the first hard freeze
- Find your main water shut-off now, not during a burst pipe
- Pick up a de-icer and read the label — some are hard on concrete, especially newer concrete
- Keep a flashlight and a charged power bank where you can find them in an outage
Want the outside handled before winter? Call or text (918) 922-9348 for a free quote on gutters, a fall house wash, and deck or fence washing.