When you’re a homeowner, it’s important to have a home budget each year. This helps you to keep on top of those essential home improvements and maintenance requirements. Nothing lasts forever, and your home will need constant attention to stay in tip-top shape. It can be hard to keep on top of everything but if you make it part of your monthly routine, you can keep a close eye on all the issues that might come up.
When you are checking the outside of your home, always look up. The roof can easily be damaged by the weather, or even by wild birds. A single slipped tile can cause thousands of dollars of damage if left. Water can get in, and it leaves your attic space prone to insects and animals coming in to cause even more damage.
If you have a chimney, it is essential this is kept structurally sound. If a chimney falls, it can be very dangerous and cause a lot of damage to the other parts of your house. Some houses have lead flashing to seal the brickwork between areas of the house. If yours is stolen or damaged this can leave the bricks vulnerable.
While you are outside, check your windows and the surround. Most of the heat of a home is lost through the windows, or the edges if they are not properly sealed. Do your windows mist up between the panes? This is a sign that there is a serious problem. Your windows may need to be replaced. Some installers like the Ferguson window installation team can take on just one window at a time to help avoid disruption to your household.
Inside your home, you may be noticing a few cracks appearing in the walls around the ceiling or the corners. Sometimes this is normal plaster movement. Cracks that you can fit your finger into could be a sign of subsidence. You will need professional help to assess and fix a problem like this. This type of problem could occur around wrongly fitted windows too.
If you have been noticing a musty smell in one or more of your rooms, you may have a damp problem. If the rooms contain any plumbing, it is likely water is leaking somewhere. Use a bleach-based sink and drain unblocker if there is a plughole in the room. For pipework, rub cotton wool along the joints to see if there is any wetness. The joints can often be tightened to solve this kind of problem.
All painted woodwork, inside and out, needs regular touching up. This is to prevent the wood drying out or getting too damp. It also keeps your home looking good. Use a sanding block to slough gently off the old paint and any weathered surface. Apply the correct paint type for the conditions.
Maintaining your home doesn’t take too long or too much money if you keep on top of it. Try to budget in a monthly sum to put away for any emergencies or big jobs that may come up. Love the home you’re in by taking good care of it year on year.
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