To prepare your San Diego home exterior for the rainy season, walk the house on a dry day and look for failed caulk, bare or peeling paint, soft wood, stucco cracks and clogged gutters. Fix small problems first and let walls dry before painting. Early fall can be a good time to do it.
Rain in San Diego doesn’t come often. When it does, it finds every weak spot on a house. A small gap in the caulk or a patch of bare wood that was fine all summer can turn into a real problem after a few wet days.
The good news is that a little prep before the rainy season goes a long way. Here’s what I look at.
Walk the house on a dry day
Pick a dry, bright day and walk all the way around. Look up as well as ahead. Take photos so you can compare later. You’re looking for places where water can get in or sit.
Check the caulk
Caulk is the first line of defense. Look at the seams around windows, doors, trim and where different materials meet. Caulk should be soft and tight to both surfaces. If it’s cracked, shrunken or pulling away, rain can get behind it.
Replacing caulk is one of the most useful things you can do before wet weather. It has to go on a clean, dry surface, and it needs time to set before it rains. That’s why timing matters.
Look for bare or peeling spots
Paint is a shield. Where it has peeled or worn off, bare wood and plaster soak up water. Wood swells, stucco takes on moisture and the damage spreads. Spot-prime and touch up small bare areas before the rain comes. If peeling is widespread, a full repaint may be the better plan. See the services page for the kinds of work I do.
Check the wood
Press a screwdriver tip gently into trim, sills, fascia boards and the bottom of door frames. Firm wood is fine. Soft or spongy wood may be rotted, and paint won’t fix it. It needs to be repaired or replaced first, or the new paint won’t last.
Stucco cracks
Stucco is tough, but cracks let water in. Hairline cracks can usually be filled with a flexible patching product and then painted. Larger cracks, or cracks that keep growing, may need a stucco repair first. Don’t leave them through the wet months.
Gutters, downspouts and drainage
This isn’t painting, but it protects your paint. Clogged gutters overflow, and the water runs down your walls. Make sure downspouts drain away from the house. Trim plants back so walls can dry. Plants pressed against a wall hold moisture on it.
Wash first
Dirt, mildew and, near the coast, salt film should come off before any paint or caulk goes on. A wall must also dry fully afterward. In a damp week, that can take a while. Rushing this step is how paint fails early.
Mind the weather window
Exterior paint needs a dry surface and dry weather while it cures. Every paint label has a range of temperatures and conditions. Keep an eye on the forecast and plan around it. If rain is close, it’s better to wait than to paint and hope. Early fall can be a good time to get the prep done before the first storms.
Don’t forget what’s underneath
Sometimes a stain or a bubble shows up after the first rain. That’s your house telling you where the water got in. Note where it is and call someone to look at it. The earlier you catch it, the smaller the repair.
A simple pre-rain list
- Check and replace failed caulk
- Touch up bare or peeling spots
- Press-test trim for soft wood
- Fill small stucco cracks
- Clear gutters and check downspouts
- Trim plants away from the walls
Want a second pair of eyes?
If you’d like someone to look at your house before the wet weather, call me at (858) 333-2396 for a free estimate, or use the contact page. I’ll tell you what needs attention now and what can wait.
FAQ
Can you paint a house right before the rainy season?
Yes, if the weather allows. Exterior paint needs dry conditions while it dries and cures, so plan around the forecast. If rain is close, waiting a few days is better than painting and hoping. Prep and caulk work also need dry weather.
What should I fix first before it rains?
Start with failed caulk, bare wood and peeling paint, because these let water in. Then check for soft or rotted wood and cracks in stucco. Clear gutters too. Those steps keep water out and protect the paint you already have.
How do I know if water is getting into my walls?
Look for bubbling or peeling paint, dark stains, soft wood, and cracks that open after rain. Stains inside the house near a window or ceiling can also point to a leak. Find the source before painting. Paint covers a mark but doesn’t stop water.