Seasonal property care
An Algarve villa maintenance calendar: what to check each season
The useful maintenance date is the one that catches a small problem before heat, rain or a long empty period turns it into a larger job.
Updated 17 September 2026 · 6 min read
Winter: document water paths
Faro climate normals show that the cooler part of the year carries much more of the annual rainfall than summer. That makes winter a useful time to observe the building rather than hide every mark immediately.
After rain, photograph where water collects or travels: roof valleys, gutters, downpipes, parapets, terrace joints and the bottom of façades. A stain is more useful when its source and timing are recorded.
- Check accessible gutters and downpipe outlets
- Photograph damp marks before they dry
- Look for cracked tiles, loose coating and blocked drainage
- Record the same viewpoint after the next heavy rain
Spring: clean, repair and prepare
Spring is a practical review point before peak heat and heavy summer use. Start with a condition check, then separate cleaning from repairs and finishing. Painting over salts, algae, loose coating or unresolved moisture only conceals the reason the finish failed.
For washing, the method should match the surface and use water deliberately. More water or more pressure does not automatically mean a better result, especially on render, tile, joints and coated surfaces.
- Test a small area before treating the whole surface
- Complete repairs and allow the specified curing time
- Choose several suitable days for exterior coating
- Protect plants, glazing, pools and drainage routes
Summer: prioritise inspection and interior work
Long dry periods are useful for access and observation, but a very hot wall is not automatically a good painting surface. Work should follow the coating data sheet, surface temperature, wind and drying time rather than the month alone.
Interior painting can usually be planned throughout the year. In summer, organise ventilation, air-conditioning, furniture protection and room-by-room access so that fast drying does not replace controlled drying.
- Inspect sun-exposed façades for chalking and hairline cracks
- Check timber and metal finishes before corrosion or peeling spreads
- Plan exterior work around shade and suitable conditions
- Use vacant periods for controlled interior work
Autumn: make the property rain-ready
Before wetter weather, clear the routes that should carry water away and confirm that earlier repairs remain sound. This is also the moment to create a dated photo record for an owner who will be away during winter.
A short, repeatable inspection is more valuable than an ambitious checklist that is never completed. Use the same photo positions each season so that slow change becomes visible.
- Recheck roof drainage, terraces and façade bases
- Remove accessible debris without entering unsafe roof areas
- Confirm access instructions and emergency contacts
- Agree which findings can wait and which need a site visit
Before requesting an estimate
Before requesting an estimate
- Four dated exterior overview photographs
- Close-ups of any change since the previous inspection
- A note of blocked drainage, damp, cracks or peeling
- Access details and the next planned review date
Sources and further reading
- IPMA — Faro climate normal, 1991–2020
- Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente — Algarve water-efficiency plan
Product instructions and the condition of the property always take priority over general guidance.
