Maintaining a House in Finland: A Seasonal Guide
Owning a house in Finland is a year-round project. Each season has its own tasks.
Spring (April-May)
The main task after winter: inspection and clean-up.
Snow has melted — check the roof and gutters. Winter stresses them, and cracks are easier to spot before the rain season starts.
Yard: remove winter gritting sand. Rake the whole area. Sand layers prevent grass from growing properly underneath.
Sauna: after winter, a good time for a thorough clean — benches, walls, floor, heater exterior.
Summer (June-August)
Main focus: keeping up what you have done.
Lawn: every 1-2 weeks. Skip it in June and the grass takes over fast.
Windows: July-August is a good time to wash both inside and outside.
Autumn (September-October)
October is leaf season. Leaving it too long is not recommended: leaves prevent the lawn from breathing, and in spring you get yellow patches.
Last mowing before the first frost. Grass should go into winter at 5-7 cm — not shorter.
Check pipe insulation: critical before freezing temperatures arrive.
Winter (November-March)
Clear snow immediately after each fall — do not let it pile up. Compacted snow turns to ice and is much harder to remove.
Keep paths gritted: sand or de-icing material.
Roof: if a thick layer of snow has built up (30+ cm) — better to remove it, especially on older houses with lower load capacity.
What to outsource
Outsource: regular lawn mowing, snow clearing, general cleaning, demanding jobs. This frees time for everything else.
A PalveMax annual contract covers all seasons — spring, summer, autumn, winter. One agreement, one contact person.
Two parts of that cycle are covered in more detail separately: when to mow and who is responsible for snow.
Frequently asked questions
What needs doing around the house in spring?▾
Check the roof and gutters once the snow has melted, because winter stresses them and cracks are easier to find before the rains. Remove the winter gritting sand and rake the whole plot, since grass grows poorly under a layer of sand. The sauna is worth a thorough clean.
What to keep up in summer?▾
Mow every 1-2 weeks, because in June the grass takes over fast. July and August are the best time to wash the windows inside and out.
When should leaves be cleared?▾
In October, once most have fallen, and it is not worth delaying: under a layer of leaves the lawn cannot breathe and by spring you get yellow patches. The last mow is done before the first frosts.
What needs doing in winter?▾
Clear snow immediately after each fall rather than letting it pile up, because compacted snow turns to ice and is harder to remove. Keep paths gritted. A thick layer of snow on the roof, over 30 cm, is better removed, especially on older houses.
Which jobs are worth outsourcing?▾
Regular mowing, snow clearing, general cleaning and the more demanding jobs. An annual contract covers all four seasons under one agreement with one contact person, and the labour share qualifies for the household tax credit.
Need a hand?
Tell us the job, the address and when suits you — we reply within the hour with an estimate.
We reply in writing in English, Finnish and Russian.
Phone service is in Russian: +358 44 928 5010