Spring is in the air, and now the weather is looking brighter, it’s the perfect time to get going started on basic home maintenance. Cold weather can bring condensation to the fore and many people will have seen damp and mould issues surface. However, a little home care and a few lifestyle considerations will ensure that problems don’t develop further – and many tasks won’t cost you a penny.
Start by checking your home’s exterior. Use binoculars to check for missing roof tiles or decayed thatch, excessive moss or vegetation, cracks in your chimney stack, damaged pointing, and whether your gutters are blocked. If there are any problems, deal with them sooner rather than later to avoid expensive repairs being required. Don’t forget to fit birdcages to your chimney to prevent birds from making a nest in your home too.
Look over your exterior paintwork to see whether there is any blistering or peeling paint. If so, repaint when the weather is likely to be fine for a few days. You may also want to consider using a masonry protection cream if you have any issues with rain penetration. Bear in mind that this should be applied to a clean, paint free surface.
Look out for any cracks in the render or bricks, and check your pointing. Pay close attention to any air bricks you have too, and clear any leaves, dust, cobwebs and other blockages away.
Check your drains to ensure there are no leaves or vegetation blocking them. Look around the exterior walls to make sure that there are no blockages to any ventilation, and the level of the soil is no higher than the level of your damp proof course. If it is, dig it back to ground level as otherwise you could bridge the damp proof course which can lead to damp.
Check inside your loft space for any signs of damp or missing roof tiles (checking inside as well as outside makes it less likely that you’ll miss any problems). Pay close attention to any pipework, and lag your pipes if you haven’t already, to minimise the risk of condensation and burst pipes in cold weather.
Finally, check door and window frames for rot, treat it if you spot any and give your windows (and curtains) a clean, before getting started on spring cleaning. Don’t forget to have the windows open as you clean, to get rid of stale air and dust, and minimise the risk of damp and mould.
It may sound like a lot of work, but your sparkling windows and spotless home will be a reminder of all the hard work you’ve put in to protect your property.
Restoration UK offers damp proofing and waterproofing materials, wood treatments and condensation control equipment and products. They also offer free technical advice and next day delivery.
For further advice, please call Restoration UK on 01509 216 323 or contact us here.
