Home Maintenance

One of the main ways to keep everything at home ticking over is to inspect areas regularly. This is of course easier with your skirting boards than your roof. However, don’t be tempted to climb on to your roof, as apart from being dangerous it can cause damage. Use a pair of binoculars or try to gain a good view of it from a neighbour’s top floor window.

The idea here is to spot any loose tiles or slates, torn coverings, missing pointing or damaged chimneys and to arrange for a professional to fix minor repairs so that you don’t have a large bill for more extensive work. Cut off any large, overhanging tree branches that may cause damage in high winds.

Go up into your attic to look for any signs of leaks. Pipes and tanks up here should be fully lagged, and inspect timbers for signs of woodworm and damp.

Inside out
When looking at the condition of walls, make sure you check both internally and externally wherever possible. Outside, you should repair any cracks or crumbling bricks and ensure that mud or leaves don’t block airbricks. Neglecting to do so can lead to problems with damp. If your walls are finished with rendering, this will need to be maintained.

Clear out gutterings and downpipes too, checking these for splits, drips and general damage. Chipped paint, missing mastic, putty and rotting wood will all need your attention when it comes to window frames and doors. Inside, you should bleed the radiators and clear out any grilles when necessary, and keep the walls in good condition.

Make sure the skirting boards aren’t affected by rot or woodworm. Do your floors feel more springy than they should? Rotting or weakened joists could be the underlying problem. Are there any patches of damp on your walls or ceiling?

Looking for answers
If you do discover damp areas, don’t just paint over them and hope for the best. You must tackle the cause of the problem. Check your central heating system, roof, drainage system, windows, plumbing and damp-proof course.

The latter should stop moisture rising up from the ground into your home if it is working effectively, and a low-level tidemark may be an indication that it isn’t.

Damp can also be caused by condensation from cooking and washing. Make sure your home has adequate ventilation in the kitchen and bathroom and anywhere you dry laundry – install extractor fans and open windows.

All washed up
Broken tiles in your bathroom and kitchen should be replaced, along with missing or damaged sealant. If there are any soft or discoloured areas around domestic appliances, the shower, sinks, or the toilet, make sure you investigate to find the cause.

Clean out pipes and drains regularly. Be confident that your boiler and gas appliances are in excellent working condition by having them serviced and checked on an annual basis.

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