Winter sports aside, snow provides a helpful opportunity for homeowners on a few levels. Snow erases all other visual distractions, letting you ‘see’ things you may not have noticed when trees and landscaping made them less visible.

We live in the northeast, and 2x a year tree stuff comes down and blankets our homes. Wet leaves that remain on roofs deposit tannins, creating staining. FUN FACT: Once there, tannins stay. They are dormant when dry, but come to life again when wet.

Most of these things aren’t that noticeable the first few years, but after a few seasons, the buildup is exponential because it’s got more to grab onto.

Snow also highlights the entities with northern exposures, or are heavily shaded. These are especially susceptible to mildew and rot, as the sun doesn’t have as much opportunity to dry them out.

Power washing isn’t just an aesthetic thing, it protects your property. All this buildup weakens and hurts whatever it’s holding onto. And a compromised envelope can invite all sorts of other trouble, heartache and ohyes, cost.

So next snow, take a quick 360 degree tour of your property. Take pics, even bring binoculars for some closeups. More on power washing in SNOW: What is it Good For? Part Two