This is not an exhaustive or a complete subject. It is likely to change over time, with edits, additions and deletions, and is simply a collection of my thoughts based on many years of experience. You should follow your instincts, and you must always seek your own professional advice.
Preparing any old building for the seasonal weather changes does not need to be hard or an arduous task. It is common sense to look after your building and it is well worth devoting a little time towards some simple maintenance.
The following tasks can be easily ‘ticked off’..:
- Have a look at the roof. If you can’t see all of it, try to find someone who has a drone and can take some aerial photos for you. Look for any slipped and missing tiles and get them fixed or replaced straightaway.
- Methodically check and clean all gutters and downpipes for leaves and other debris. If you have trees nearby then you should be checking the gutters a few times each year and definitely after the leaves have fallen. Don’t forget or ignore any hidden valley gutters and parapet gutters. These can be easily overlooked and can lead to internal leaks in hard to access places. If you see any water stains on your ceiling, investigate them immediately and fix any leaks which are causing the damp penetration.
- Stand outside in the rain and watch what happens. Does the rain run off the roof and can get away from the building easily…? Look for dripping gutters, water running down the outside of a downpipes and blocked gulleys at ground level. You want to avoid rainwater being discharged against the wall at ground level. Any problems, get them fixed. Water running down the outside of a downpipes indicates that it is blocked. Take it off and clear the blockage.
- Look for any puddles against the wall. This will probably lead to damp internally. Stop this happening.
- As the external air temperature drops, you might find that you start to see an increase in condensation on your windows. This is most likely to happen on single glazed windows, especially on the north facing elevations, but it can also happen on double-glazing and uninsulated frames and also where windows have curtains which restrict air circulation. Condensation is a very complex science, and the precise circumstances will vary from building to building, indeed from room to room, but simple things such as good air circulation and heating can help. I will write more about this in another Blog.
- Make sure that your roof spaces are insulated and that there is ventilation above the insulation.
- If you haven’t already done so, make sure that your heating and hot water installation has been serviced and is fully functional
- Lift your drain covers and make sure that your drains are flushed and free-flowing. It will be very obvious if you have any blockages, so get them cleared and find out why they became blocked. Maybe there is an obstruction or collapse?
- You should not be planning any outside painting or repairs using lime mortars and renders during this period of changing weather. Wait until the following spring time.
Disclaimer: Anything posted in this Blog is for general information only and it is not in any way intended to provide any advice, legal or otherwise, on any general or specific matter that you can rely on. You should always seek your own legal and surveying advice.