3 Simple Things You Can Do This Weekend to Protect Your Home (Even If You’re Not a DIYer)
Catch a hidden issue now and dodge a wallet-draining fix later.
It’s finally the weekend and I bet your weekend plans include binge-watching, takeaway, and maybe a walk if the weather holds up… I say this because these are my plans as well 😂
But if you’ve got 20 minutes to spare, you could protect your home from hundreds (even thousands) in future repairs.
And in this blog post I am going to show you how.
At Wash Off N.I, we clean gutters, roofs, driveways, and all things exterior for homeowners across Belfast, Antrim, and surrounding areas.
And we’ve seen that a little care now can save people from big headaches down the road.
But first thing first, I am not here to give you some boring lecture about DIY.
We’re not asking you to fish that ladder out of the shed and get up on the roof and scrub moss with a toothbrush.
These are three easy, no-stress things you can do this weekend that make a huge difference.
1. Take a Quick Walk Around Your Property
This sounds almost too simple, but most people are so encapsulated in their lives they forget to look up and check their home.
If I asked you now, how much moss is on your roof?
Could you tell me?
This weekend, take 5 minutes and do a lap around your house.
Look at:
Gutters:
Are they overflowing, sagging, or stained?
Driveways/paths:
Is water pooling? Are weeds breaking through?
Roof edges:
Any moss or algae build-up visible?
Walls:
Signs of damp, green growth, or peeling paint?
Even from the ground, these signs can tell you a lot.
Why it matters:
Overflowing gutters can lead to foundation and roof damage
Pooling water erodes paths and patios
Moss and algae eat away at roof tiles and render
Just spotting the issue early is a win.
And if you’re not sure what you’re looking at, take a photo and send it to us.
We’ll let you know what’s going on and what the next course of action is, for FREE!
“I Wish I Had Just Done It Sooner”
A couple of months back,
I got a call from a new client just outside Antrim, it was a lovely wee place, semi-detached house, nice garden.
She said she’d noticed water pooling around her patio every time it rained and she wasn’t sure what was causing this.
When I got there, the first thing I saw was green streaks running down the wall from the gutter line.
Not a great sign.
She told me,
“I’ve been meaning to sort this out for a while. I just kept putting it off… didn’t seem like a big deal.”
To be fair, it’s a story I hear a lot in my line of work.
Anyway, I got up the ladder and had a look.
Her gutters were completely packed.
And I’m talking years’ worth of leaves, moss, and sludge.
So heavy the bracket holding one corner had actually snapped clean off, and water had been spilling straight down the wall.
She was frustrated because the damage had already started.
Render was stained.
The fascia board was starting to rot.
What could have been sorted with a regular clean turned into a much bigger job.
By the end, she told me,
“I should’ve done this a year ago. I just didn’t realise it was this bad.”
That stuck with me, because it’s such a common story.
People think, “I’ll get round to it,” and then life gets in the way and I know this because this happens to me as well.
But while we procrastinate, the water doesn’t stop.
That’s why I always say:
If it’s in your head now, then get it done now.
2. Clear the Drain Covers and Downpipes (No Tools Needed)
Here’s a little secret…
Most of the gutter-related problems we fix start on the ground.
Blocked drains and downpipes cause water to back up into gutters, overflow across patios, and pool near foundations.
The good news?
You don’t need a power tool to fix this.
Just pop the leaves and gunk off your outside drains.
If you can remove the cover, even better.
Warning signs to look for:
You see water pooling every time it rains
There’s a smell around the drain
You hear a gurgling sound from the downpipe
Why does it matter…
Unblocked drains keep water flowing away from your home, not into it.
This protects your foundations, driveways, and lower walls.
3. Book Your Exterior Clean Before the Rush Hits
We know.
This might sound a bit cheeky.
But hear us out, spring and summer are when everyone books exterior cleaning, and calendars fill up fast.
Booking early means:
You get first pick of dates
You beat the seasonal rush
Your property is protected before the weather turns again
At Wash Off N.I, we offer:
Gutter vacuuming (with photo proof)
Soft washing for render, walls, and roofs
Driveway and patio cleaning
Moss and algae removal
You don’t even have to be home.
We show up, clean while you're at work or relaxing, and send before-and-after shots to your phone.
Most clients say the same thing after we’re done:
"Why didn’t I do this sooner?"
The Hidden Costs of Neglect: What You Could Be Paying
Regular maintenance isn’t just about appearances, it’s a smart way to protect your wallet.
I did some shopping around and here’s what some common exterior-related repairs might cost you in Northern Ireland:
Foundation Repairs
Subsidence or underpinning: £10,000–£15,000
Average cost: £12,500
Roof Repairs
Leak fixes: £50–£450
Full roof replacement: Around £7,000
Gutter and Fascia Replacement
Gutter replacement (uPVC): £45 per metre
Full fascia/soffit replacement: Up to £3,000
Water Damage Restoration
Leak detection: £500–£1,000
Interior redecoration (from water damage): £300–£1,500 per room
And the worst part?
Most of these start with small, preventable problems like blocked gutters, standing water, a little overflow, a patch of moss, a blocked downpipe.
And because it’s not immediately visible, it’s easy to ignore…
Until it’s not!
What we see on the job every week is proof, homeowners waiting too long, then getting hit with repairs that could’ve been avoided with one quick clean.
You don’t need to be a DIY expert.
You just need to act a little earlier than most people do.
And if you’re reading this? You’re already ahead of the game.
Protecting Your Home Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
You don’t need ladders.
Or gloves.
Or a pressure washer.
You just need:
A quick walkaround
A 2-minute drain check
A message to our team to get the pros in
We serve Belfast, Antrim, and beyond.
It doesn’t matter if you are living rural, suburban, or right in town?
We’ll keep your home’s exterior as solid as the inside
Ready to Get It Off Your List?
And the best part?
You don’t even need to be home.
We clean while you’re at work, send before-and-after photos straight to your phone, and make sure everything looks spot-on before we leave.
Whether it’s your gutters, render, patio, or roof, we’ll get it looking fresh, fast.
✅ No stress.
✅ No mess.
✅ No waiting weeks for an appointment.
Beat the rush, book early, and let’s get your exterior sorted before small issues turn into big bills.
Wash Off N.I
Professional Exterior Cleaning Services
Serving Belfast, Antrim, and surrounding areas.
