Public Servant Lifestyle

Some questions about upkeeping the fabric of your home answered by the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC).

Keeping an eagle eye on the exterior of your home pays dividends in the long run.

Q: What should I be looking out for so far as maintaining my home is concerned?

A: It doesn’t take long to check your home. First give the walls a look over and if they are rendered make sure that none has dropped off and is likely to allow rain penetration and therefore cause damp patches on the home interior. Check the roof and chimney, preferably using binoculars. Broken tiles or slates should be replaced as a matter of urgency by an expert who has the right equipment to work safely at height. Also check gutters and drain pipes for damage and leaks.

Keeping a close eye on the fabric of your house is important - particularly after winter weather. Gradual deterioration of your roof, walls, guttering, fascias, soffits and cladding can be avoided by careful maintenance, helping you to eliminate any potential problems before they start.

Associated Damage

A leaky roof can cause all sorts of associated damage to internal ceilings and walls if left unchecked. It is important to find the source of the leak and rectify the problem as soon as possible, remembering that, because water may run down rafters and beams, rain may not necessarily be coming in directly above where it forms a damp patch on the ceiling.

An easy and safe way to look for problems is to ask a neighbour if you can take a look from their windows using binoculars. Check for missing slates or tiles, or worn material on flat roofs and look out for wear and tear around the chimney breast. If any work needs to be done, it is best to call in a reputable roofer to make sure that the job is done properly and safely.

If you have timber soffits and fascias, make sure they are regularly painted. Alternatively, having a proprietary uPVC (Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride) system installed will reduce the need for such frequent maintenance - a wipe over with a damp cloth every five years or so should suffice.

uPVC Systems

Similarly, external timber should be painted with a preservative in order to protect it against the effects of the elements. But this can also be replaced with a low maintenance uPVC system. Clear leaves from gutters and drainpipes as these can block them and cause them to leak, causing damage to the brickwork. Overflowing gutters can collapse, so ensure all gutter supports are secure and in place and are not rusty or worn. Blockages occur especially where trees overhang the property.

Usually brickwork needs relatively little maintenance, but mortar and pointing should be checked and replaced if crumbling. A waterproofing solution can be applied to protect against penetrating damp, but in certain cases where brickwork is very porous, new, matching bricks should replace the old.

You can clean brickwork by scrubbing it with soapy water. If you notice a white powder forming, you can brush it off and apply a neutralising liquid (sold in builders' merchants). This 'efflorescence' will not damage the brickwork and is only caused by moisture evaporation.

Information supplied by The National Home Improvement Council.

PSP Ltd is not responsible for the contents of external websites.

More information available in Ideas, Home Security, Garden, Home Improvement, DIY, Outside Living, Your Home