How to protect your home against the elements
If you’re wondering how to protect your home against the elements to avoid interior damage and give a great first impression, read on.
Wind, rain, ice, snow and even intense sunshine can cause damage to the outside of your home, that will, in turn, affect the interior.
So it is important to check outdoor elements such as roofs and gutters on a regular basis and fix any problems sooner rather than later.
It is also essential to paint the exterior of your home on a regular basis to protect it from the elements.
Every three or four years should be enough, but the frequency will depend on where your property is located and how exposed it is to the weather.
Older houses tend to need more maintenance than new builds, but occasionally every home needs a thorough check over.
Richard Sherratt says:“As well as checking roofs and gutters, look at parts of the building that you don’t see every day, for example flat roofs, chimney stacks and roof space.
“Also make sure the damp course is not breached. This is a classic issue of a stitch in time saves nine – money spent on maintenance advice is money well spent.”
Your home may look fantastic on the inside, but for all-round appeal you also need to dedicate some time and energy to the outside.
- Keep your garden looking gorgeous and make sure the boundaries of the property are neatly defined with a small brick wall, a fence or hedges.
- Check, mend and treat fences with wood preservative.
- Make simple repairs to the exterior of your home as they are needed and keep window sills and frames fresh by touching up any paint chips.
- Your front door says a lot about your home, so keep the paintwork in good condition, make sure your door is clearly numbered and add welcoming touches such as a porch light or potted plants.
- Clean, wash and polish the windows of your home for a bright and well-kept look.
- Roofs – check the roof for any missing or damaged tiles or cracks in roofing felt.
- Gutters – Check rainwater pipes and guttering for any damage and clear away any blockages. Replace damaged or rusted cast-iron guttering.
- Drains – make sure your drains are working properly and unblock them regularly.
- Damp course – make sure you have up-to-date damp proofing.
- Rendering and brickwork – Get cracked brickwork and crumbling pointing repaired.
- Window paintwork – repaint peeling external paintwork, especially on wooden door or window frames. Repair or replace any damaged frames.
- Chimney stacks – check your chimney stack for cracks or signs of damp.
- Check draught proofing around letterbox, doors, windows.
For further help with work on protecting your home from the elements, please call Sherratt Builders, covering Shropshire and Mid Wales on 01743 791815 or 07786 268435.
