Annual home maintenance tasks
Owning your own home is one of the biggest investments that you will ever make, it can also be one of the most costly if you don't look after it. Taking the time to do an annual inspection could save you a lot of money.
Talking on the radio last week reminded me that we are not that far away from spring and that there are certain home maintenance projects best tackled during the winter months. Just a couple of hours on a weekend could save you thousands by being able to detect minor defects before they turn into major problems. Here is a list of what you should be looking for as you walk around your home exterior:
Start at the top
It's always better to start at the top and work down, mainly because most people tend to overlook inspecting their roof, yet this is probably one of the most important places to check for damage. So let's start at the top of the top, shall we!
RIDGE CAP
If you have a tiled roof you will also have a ridge cap, or line of curved tiles that top off where tiles join at the centre of a roof, or at any angles along the roof. These ridge caps are normally secured with mortar. Over time this mortar becomes brittle and can break off causing these tiles to slip. A quick inspection along the top of the roof will determine whether or not ridge caps need to be re-mortared or re-placed.
ROOF TILES
While you're up at the top of the ladder, investigate the condition of your roof. Whether you roof is tiled, has bitumen sheeting for a flat roof, or is IBR corrugated steel roof, sooner or later it might needs some maintenance. Tiles can slip out of place or break, and it is far easier to replace these as and when rather than wait for a major storm and have to attend to leaks as well.
FLAT ROOF
Most flat roofs have a bitumen sheet laid over the top and this can eventually lift along seams, or sag and create pooling. As soon as you see even the smallest defect, pop along to your local Builders Warehouse and get what you need to fix it up.
You will find a wide selection of products that will easily and affordably remedy the situation.
CORRUGATED ROOF
On an IBR corrugated sheet roof you need to inspect around joins and screws for signs of rust. After sanding away and neutralising rust, you can purchase both membrane and tape to apply as a waterproof seal.
PRODUCT TO USE FOR ROOF REPAIR
This is not an advertisement. I am simply showing these products because they are easily available off the shelf at your local Builders Warehouse and are excellent products for roof repairs.
Before moving down the ladder, check gutters and downspouts for any signs of rust. If the downpipe is blocked you can force in a hosepipe to try and clear the blockage, and this will also assist in finding leaks in the downspout. You can also use bituseal plastic and super laykold tape for gutter and downspout repairs.