If you check the health of your building every year, you can stave off expensive repairs and restoration work. Just like for you and me, a regular check-up can catch potential problems before they become an issue. Prevention can be used before a cure is needed. Neglect on the other hand can lead to big problems. Forget to clean out your gutters month after month and you may find water leaking into your building.
Just before winter is the most important time of year for maintenance. You need to get your building ready for the bad weather so it survives the season without any damage. Rain and winds can really test the structure of a building so it's essential it can stand up to the weather.
Make sure that you have the right equipment for the job before you begin any maintenance project. Protective clothing and gloves are a must and you might need a hard hat. For any high work make sure that you have the right safety gear. If you're unsure, always have a second person to help, and ask an expert if you find something beyond your knowledge base. If you tackle jobs that are too big you might end up doing more harm than good.
So what should you do in your annual maintenance check? Well, the roof is central to keeping the building warm and dry, so checking this is number one on the list. Look for any missing tiles where water or animals could get inside. Sometimes roofs can be hard to get to, so looking from a building next door can provide a good vantage point. Moss should be removed from your roof as this can cause drainage problems, and the chimney should be checked closely as this is a weak area.
We already mentioned blocked gutters; they do an essential job so make sure that they're clear. If you live in a wooded area you may have to clean out your gutters regularly because of fallen leaves. If there are any gullies round the bottom of the building make sure these are clear too; this will prevent rising damp.
The walls should be looked over every year for signs of erosion. Badly eroded mortar should be replaced, and small cracks should be filled in with mortar to provide good wall protection. Larger cracks must be referred to an expert who will keep an eye on them; a widening crack is a sign of subsidence and other underlying structural problems.
All the external wood round the door frames and windows should be checked for rot. A carpenter can repair this and should be consulted before you think about replacements. You should try to preserve the character of the building wherever possible.
Always use traditional materials when carrying out repairs; they must be sympathetic to preserve the look of your building. Also consult the planning department if you're unsure about what you're allowed to do. You may be able to use modern materials, or the rules might be quite stringent.
Sylvia Kittens lives in Harrogate, England
Source: www.articlecity.com
