Exterior renovation checklist, Dwelvo

Phase 01

Survey before you decide anything

Exterior work is the one area where the survey genuinely comes before the wish list.

Roof: missing or slipped tiles, the ridge, the flashing and the valleys
Gutters, downpipes and gullies, checked while it is actually raining
Walls: cracks, spalled brick, failed pointing and hollow render
Damp-proof course, and whether anything is bridging it
Windows and doors: frames, sills, glazing seals and how they close
Fascias, soffits and bargeboards
Ground levels, drainage and where surface water goes
Trees and roots close to the building
Whether the property is protected or sits in an area with extra planning restrictions, which changes what you may do
Whether any of it needs scaffolding, and who arranges the permit for it
Ask your local building authority which parts of this need permission or an inspection, and how long that takes

Phase 02

Make it watertight first

Nothing else outside is worth doing until water is going where it should.

Repair or replace the roof covering. A large re-cover often needs permission or an inspection, so check before the scaffold goes up
Replace flashing and repoint the ridge and verges
Replace or repair fascias, soffits and bargeboards
Replace gutters and downpipes, and check the falls
Clear the gullies and the drains
Repair the chimney stack, the flaunching and the pots
Fix the cause of any damp, then let the wall dry before you cover it

Phase 03

Walls, windows and doors

Top down, and only once the water is under control.

Rake out and repoint failed mortar, matching the original mix
Replace spalled bricks
Cut out and repair blown render, then render, and let it cure
Replace or repair windows, using an installer who can certify the work where you live, so the paperwork comes with the job
Check the trickle vents and the seals on anything replaced
Replace external doors and their thresholds
Fit or repair window sills and drip details
Repair or replace the external wall insulation, if there is any

Phase 04

Decorate outside

Weather-dependent, so keep this flexible in the plan.

Clean down the surfaces and treat any organic growth
Prepare and prime bare timber and previously painted masonry
Paint masonry with a breathable coating on a solid wall
Paint or stain timber, fascias and joinery
Paint the front door and the frame
Paint or repair railings, gates and metalwork

Phase 05

Ground, boundaries and services

Last, because everything above it drops debris onto it.

Regrade the ground so it falls away from the wall and clears the damp-proof course
Lay or repair paths, the drive and the patio, and ask your local building authority where the surface water is meant to go
Repair fences, gates and boundary walls
Fit external lighting, sockets and a doorbell
Fit an outside tap, and check it is protected from frost
Position the bin store and the bike store
Plant, and leave the planting until the heavy work is genuinely finished

Phase 01

Survey before you decide anything

Exterior work is the one area where the survey genuinely comes before the wish list.

Phase 02

Make it watertight first

Nothing else outside is worth doing until water is going where it should.

Repair or replace the roof covering. A large re-cover often needs permission or an inspection, so check before the scaffold goes up
Replace flashing and repoint the ridge and verges
Replace or repair fascias, soffits and bargeboards
Replace gutters and downpipes, and check the falls
Clear the gullies and the drains
Repair the chimney stack, the flaunching and the pots
Fix the cause of any damp, then let the wall dry before you cover it

Phase 03

Walls, windows and doors

Top down, and only once the water is under control.

Rake out and repoint failed mortar, matching the original mix
Replace spalled bricks
Cut out and repair blown render, then render, and let it cure
Replace or repair windows, using an installer who can certify the work where you live, so the paperwork comes with the job
Check the trickle vents and the seals on anything replaced
Replace external doors and their thresholds
Fit or repair window sills and drip details
Repair or replace the external wall insulation, if there is any

Phase 04

Decorate outside

Weather-dependent, so keep this flexible in the plan.

Clean down the surfaces and treat any organic growth
Prepare and prime bare timber and previously painted masonry
Paint masonry with a breathable coating on a solid wall
Paint or stain timber, fascias and joinery
Paint the front door and the frame
Paint or repair railings, gates and metalwork

Phase 05

Ground, boundaries and services

Last, because everything above it drops debris onto it.

Regrade the ground so it falls away from the wall and clears the damp-proof course
Lay or repair paths, the drive and the patio, and ask your local building authority where the surface water is meant to go
Repair fences, gates and boundary walls
Fit external lighting, sockets and a doorbell
Fit an outside tap, and check it is protected from frost
Position the bin store and the bike store
Plant, and leave the planting until the heavy work is genuinely finished

Exterior renovation checklist

What goes wrong outside

Survey before you decide anything

Make it watertight first

Walls, windows and doors

Decorate outside

Ground, boundaries and services

Exterior renovation checklist

What goes wrong outside

Survey before you decide anything

Make it watertight first

Walls, windows and doors

Decorate outside

Ground, boundaries and services