The Last Dry Weeks Before the Rain Comes Back

There's a pretty narrow window every year where the weather's dry enough for caulking, sealing, or exterior painting to actually cure right — and once the rain starts back up in earnest, that window's closed until next summer. September is usually the last real stretch of it.

Worth getting to before the rain returns:

• Refresh caulking around windows and doors — gaps here are a common source of drafts and water intrusion
• Check siding for gaps or damage
• Touch up exposed exterior wood trim
• Check flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights
• One more gutter clean before the bigger leaf drop hits

If any of this turns into something bigger — siding that's more damaged than expected, or flashing that's actually failing — better to find that out in September with time to address it than in November with water already getting in.

If there's exterior work on your list, September's the month to get it done before the window closes on you.