A gloved hand scooping wet leaves out of a house gutter
Clear gutters in spring and fall so rain lands away from the foundation.
Exterior

Exterior home maintenance and outdoor repairs

A little care outside helps protect everything inside. Cleaning the gutters and checking the deck, fence and roof can help you catch small problems before they turn into expensive repairs. Start with the part of the house that needs attention.

  • 27 fixes
  • Step-by-step pictures
  • When to call a pro

Where to start: Clean the gutters every spring and fall so rain goes where it should. Replace a cracked deck board before someone trips on it, and square up a sagging gate. A single missing shingle on a low roof is a manageable fix. Anything steep or high is a job for a roofer.

Clogged gutter with leaves, downspout with extension, and a ladder with a stabilizer arm
From the guide: Clean gutters and downspouts safely →

Outdoor faucets and frozen pipes are in Plumbing.

What are you dealing with?

Gutters overflowingCracked deck boardGate drags or won't latchMissing roof shingleGetting outdoor faucets ready for winterFence picket is brokenCrack in a concrete walk or stepVinyl siding is looseGutter pulling away from the houseWater puddles next to the houseLight showing under garage doorIcicles and ice along the roof edgeGarage door is noisyGutter leaks at a seam or cornerDeck railing is wobblyCracks in the asphalt drivewayDeck needs cleaning and sealingWood siding board is looseFence rail fell off the post
Exterior

Replace broken or sagging lattice skirting around a deck

 Moderate1–3 hours per section$25–80 per panel and fasteners
Exterior

Fix a loose deck stair tread that rocks or creaks

 Moderate30–60 min per tread$10–40 for screws or a board
Exterior

Fix popped deck nails that keep working up

 Easy5–10 min per nail$10–30 for screws
Exterior

How to patch cracks and small holes in stucco

 Moderate1–3 hr plus 1–3 days of curing$10–$40
Exterior

Melt ice on steps without damaging concrete

 Easy15–30 min per storm$10–40 per season
Exterior

Fix a leaking garden hose

 Easy10–30 min$2–15
Exterior

Remove green algae from vinyl siding

 Easy2–4 hours per side$10–40
Exterior

Remove an oil stain from a driveway

 Easy1–3 hours, plus soaking time$5–30
Exterior

Clean gutters and downspouts safely

 Moderate2–4 hrs$0–40
Exterior

Replace a cracked or loose deck board

 Moderate1–2 hrs$20–60
Exterior

Fix a loose fence board or sagging gate

 Easy30–60 min$10–30
Exterior

Replace a damaged roof shingle

 Hard1 hr$10–30
Exterior

Winterize an outdoor faucet

 Easy15–30 min$0–15
Exterior

Replace a broken fence picket

 Easy20–40 min$5–20
Exterior

Patch a crack in a concrete step or walkway

 Moderate1–2 hrs, plus curing$15–40
Exterior

Reattach loose vinyl siding

 Moderate30–60 min$5–20
Exterior

Gutter pulling away from the house

 Moderate1–3 hours$15–50
Exterior

Water pooling at the foundation

 Easy1–3 hours$10–60
Exterior

Replace a garage door bottom seal

 Moderate1–2 hours$25–80
Exterior

How to prevent ice dams

 Moderate1–3 hours, plus attic work$20–300
Exterior

Noisy garage door

 Easy30–90 min$10–80
Exterior

Gutter leaking at the seams

 Moderate1–2 hours$15–40
Exterior

Fix a wobbly deck railing

 Moderate1–3 hours$20–80
Exterior

Fill cracks in an asphalt driveway

 Easy1–3 hours, plus cure time$20–80
Exterior

Clean and seal a wood deck

 Moderate1–2 days, mostly drying time$60–250
Exterior

Re-nail loose wood siding

 Moderate30–90 min$10–40
Exterior

Fix a loose fence rail

 Easy30–90 min$10–50

Common questions

How often should gutters be cleaned?

Twice a year for most homes, in late spring and after the leaves drop in fall. More often if you have pine trees nearby.

Is it safe to replace a roof shingle myself?

Only on a low, single-story roof with a gentle pitch, on a dry day, with a well-footed ladder. Otherwise, hire a roofer.

Looking for something else? Browse all fixes or see emergency steps.