Maybe it’s one of the effects of this period of successive lockdowns, but the seasons seem to be coming around even more quickly than usual. With another autumn now fast approaching (it officially starts on 22nd September), it’s time once again to prepare your property for the challenges the weather will bring.
Here are our tips and suggestions for getting everything in order:
The roof and chimney
- out of sight they may be but now’s not the time to keep them out of mind – use the remaining daylight hours to thoroughly inspect the roof and any chimneys;
- look for loose or missing slates or tiles and ensure that the flashing – around the chimney where it passes through the roof, for example – is in good condition;
Gutters and drains
- the burst of summer activity has provided plenty of debris that has now died down and risks blocking your gutters and drains – threatening a build-up of water during autumn storms which can usher damp into the fabric of your home;
- cleaning out those gutters and drains so that rainwater runs quickly away from the building is an essential task, an article in Property Reporter on the 16th of September 2020 reminded us;
Cracks in the walls
- cracks and holes in the walls of the property can also be weak points for the damaging ingress of water;
- make sure to repair and fill any small cracks and holes yourself or contract a professional for bigger jobs;
… And cracks in paving slabs
- make sure the walkways outside of your property – the path etc. – are all up to standard so they are not a hazard with snow, ice and heavy rain;
Lag pipes
- lagging on water pipes will last from one year to the next, of course, but check it to make sure that it is still intact and, so, continuing to do its job;
- lagging material these days is fitted easily enough if you buy the insulating foam tubing that simply slides over the top of the pipes;
Wooden-framed windows
- if you have wooden window frames, check them for cracks, blisters, and any bare wood – in the freezing weather of autumn and winter, untreated wood can swell and rot before its time, so make sure to fill, seal, and repaint any exposed areas that need such treatment;
Hedges and bushes
- still on the subject of keeping your property dry and the damp out, make sure to cut back any hedges or bushes that have grown out towards the walls of the building – the leaves and branches will act as natural conduits for rainwater to penetrate the brickwork or rendering;
Sort out the shed
- you can save yourself a lot of trouble later on by sorting out your shed so that the tools you are likely to need during the autumn and winter are ready to hand near the front and other things stashed towards the back;
- so, put tools such as rakes and shears at the front, nearest the door, and pack away summer parasols and deckchairs to the back;
It probably seems to come around with increasingly speedy regularity but preparing your property for the rigours of autumn and winter is well worth the effort. The maintenance helps to preserve the value of your property – and don’t forget that your home or landlord insurance policy will also insist that the building is kept in a good state of repair.
