Awareness -
why?
Your home is probably the biggest investment you
will ever make. It needs to be looked after and maintained. There
are several things that could happen if you don't do routine checks
and repairs:
- Your house could deteriorate, resulting in unhealthy or dangerous conditions
- You could damage adjoining buildings for which you may be liable
- Your house could lose some of its value
- The area in which you live could deteriorate gradually
On these pages you will find advice on:
- How to check your home
- How to maintain your home
- How to choose and employ contractors
- What to do when you need to make an insurance claim
- What to do if you find something wrong with your contractor's work
- Where to go for extra help and advice
- What to do in an emergency
How to check your house
Inspecting your home regularly could help you to
spot a problem before it causes serious damage. Such problems can
often be put right cheaply, but if left, could end up being
expensive.
Inspect the
outside
Chimney pots
Are they leaning or broken? If so, they may need replacing or
the mortar holding them in place may need renewing.
Chimney
Is it leaning, or are there many damaged bricks? If so, it may
be dangerous. Bricks may need replacing; it may need repointing or
even rebuilding.
Flashings
This is the lead sheeting around chimney stacks and wherever
your roof and brickwork meet. They prevent water getting in at the
edge of slates or tiles. Have they slipped or are they missing? If
so, you should call a roofer to give you an estimate for sorting
out any problems and keeping water out.
Tiles or slates
Are there any slipped, missing or broken tiles or slates? If
so, they need to be replaced or put back in place. Call a
roofer.
Roof timbers
Does the roof appear to sag? If so, one or more roof timbers
may need replacing or strengthening.
Gutters and drainpipes
Are they leaking, damaged or overflowing? Even a small leak
will damage bricks, rot wood and cause damp if it is not quickly
repaired.
Overflow pipes
If water is coming from these it means that the ball-valve of
a water tank or toilet cistern is not working properly. Repair it
quickly before any damage or damp is caused.
Bricks and mortar joints
Are brick faces or the mortar joints between bricks eroded or
crumbling? Poor brickwork may allow water to penetrate.
Cracks in the walls
If cracks suddenly appear in mortar joints or bricks or become
much worse, get advice or ask a surveyor or structural engineer to
have a look. Look in the Yellow Pages under Structural
Engineers.
Timber doors
Wood will rot if it is not properly protected with paint or
stain. Check whether the paint is cracked, loose or peeling. Ensure
glazing is watertight and secure. Also ensure all locks work as
intended.
Airbricks
These help stop the floors rotting by allowing air underneath.
Don't block them with soil or paving and make sure they are clear
and clean - see timber floors.
Damp proof course
Most houses have a waterproof layer to stop
rising damp - see Damp Causes and Cures. Make sure that earth and
paving are kept six inches below this, or your house may get
damp.
Gullies
Have they got grids on the top, are all the waste
pipes pouring properly into them and are they emptying
properly?
Inside the
house
Timber floors
Are parts of the ground floor floors more springy
or bouncy, especially nearer walls? This may mean rotten joist ends
and some joists may need replacing - see also Airbricks. Rot may be
dry rot - call a specialist quickly. They should be a member of the
British Wood Preserving and Damp Proofing Association. (BWPDA) See
the Yellow Pages under Woodworm and Dry Rot Control.
Floorboards
Are there floorboards with areas of tiny holes in
them? This may mean the presence of woodworm and treatment may be
needed. Are there any loose or broken floorboards?
Skirting boards
Rotting skirting boards on the ground floor may
indicate rising damp or rot spreading from floor timbers. Woodworm
may also affect skirtings.
Electrics
Do switches spark or crackle when turned on or
off? Are there any burn marks on sockets? Are any sockets, switches
or light fittings loose, broken or cracked? Are all cables and
plugs wired securely without any cracks, splits or coloured wires
visible? Do fuses blow or light bulbs only last a very short time?
If yes, call an approved electrician.
Gas appliances
All gas appliances should be checked once a year
by a CORGI registered gas fitter to make sure they are safe. Burn
marks on heating elements, or on walls behind or to the sides of
gas fires, and flames that are more yellow than the normal
orange-yellow may indicate a problem. This should be checked and
put right immediately by an approved CORGI registered gas
fitter.
Plumbing
Are taps dripping or supply or waste pipes
leaking? Repairs at an early stage could be quite cheap but, if
left, faults could develop which will be expensive to put right.
What may appear to be a leaking cold water pipe may be no more than
condensation. Dry out and warm the wet area of the pipe. If there
is a leak, water should re-appear immediately.
Stairs and handrails
Are there any loose or broken steps and are all
handrails, bannister rails and spindles fixed securely?
Internal doors
Are all hinges secured tightly to the door frame
and door? Do they close without binding and do they keep out
draughts? Do they require easing to allow correct operation?
Central heating
See Gas Appliances - are there any radiators
which are cold at the top or which don't get as warm as the others?
If yes, the radiator probably needs 'bleeding' - see Central
Heating
Plasterwork
Areas where wallpaper keeps coming off or where
there is crumbling plaster may indicate dampness. Long straight
cracks parallel to external walls in ceilings, or diagonal cracks
to walls which start in a top corner, may indicate a structural
problem. If these appear suddenly consult a surveyor or structural
engineer.
You could do some of these repairs
yourself.
Decide -
- Can I do the work myself?
- If so, how, and what tools do I need?
- Do I need to employ a builder or specialist?
- How can I pay for the work?
- Can I claim for the work from my house building insurance?