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Spring Property check

Spring Property check

Spring is just around the corner. Let’s look at the work required around your property at spring time, this will keep your property and grounds in good order over the summer months, making preparing your property for winter simpler.

Gardens

Fences and gates: Make sure they are sound and in good working order. Make sure catches and bolts are oiled for ease of use.

Timber sheds: Check all felt roofing to sheds – if damaged or split replace with new felt. Check all timber panels to make sure they are in sound condition. Replace any rot affected or split panels with new treated timber. Make sure catches on shed doors are in good working order and oil where necessary. Replace any damaged glass with new.

Slabs, Bricks and Tarmac Paving: Make sure all slabs are properly bedded and do not rock. This also applies to brick paviours. Repoint joints to leave in sound condition. Any lifting or damaged tarmac will also need repairing. You may be wise to leave this type of finish to a specialist.

Check any edging strips, these could be concrete, brick or timber. Replace any damaged or missing sections and in particular, if timber, any rot affected sections. Replace with tanalised or treated timber.

Trees and large hedges: Any damaged limbs will need to be cut off and taken to the local tip.

Outside of your property

Gutters and Downpipes: These may need cleaning inside and out. The down pipes may need roding through to clear blockages. Replace leaking joints with new. Knowing the make of the gutter will help (with replacement parts). Also replace any damaged gutter or downpipe sections. Knowing the make of the original will help.

Brickwork: Carry out repointing work where missing or damaged. Clean brickwork where mould is appearing (usually appears as black areas where parapet or cills are constructed). Often caused by excessive damp.

External Render: Check external areas for any damage – tap areas with a metal implement to see if any areas are blown (not adhered to the sub-base). Cut back to sound render and replace with new. Cut back cracks, clean and re render. Re-decorate to match existing.

Timber Decking: Clean, prepare and check all joints to leave in sound condition. Apply at least two coats of decking oil to protect for the summer months.

Roof Tiles: Check from ground level for any missing or damaged roof tiles. Arrange with a roofer to carry out suitable repairs with suitable replacement tiles (clay or concrete).

Flat Roofs: Check that they are they in reasonable condition. If you can see cracking or bubbling call in a specialist flat roofing company to check and make recommendations (particularly if the roof is over 10 years old).

Lead flashing: Any missing or loose lead flashing will need re-fixing or replacing. Again because of the expertise required, it may well be advisable to call in the experts.

External taps: Check external taps to make sure they are not dripping. If they are, they may well need new washers and possibly re-seating. If you call out a plumber, ask him to fit an internal stopcock so that next winter you can turn off the water supply to the external taps.

Joinery Repairs: Check all timber windows and doors – make sure that your paint or stain is in good order. Make sure that all timber is sound and has no rot affected areas. If you find any rot you may want to call in a craftsman to cut it out and replace it with sound treated timber. This timber will then require repainting. As a short-term measure, and if the rot is not extensive, cut out the rot affected timber treat and fill with an external filler. When dry, paint over the sound filler and timber.

Note: all bare timber should be primed and apply two undercoats and finished with one full coat of Gloss.

If stained, apply one clear coat of protection and two full coats of stain. Always read manufacturers recommendations.

Note: Any trade required can be found on the web at www.findacraftsman.com.

The Guild of Master Craftsmen