Tips for planning home maintenance
Don ’ t wait until an emergency ! Make maintenance plans , and schedule these around tradespeople ’ s busy times .
Some tradespeople are very busy at certain times of year – which can be very frustrating when you ’ re trying to get hold of one !
It ’ s no surprise that good quality roofers and tree surgeons are in demand after a storm , and that central heating engineers are in short supply during freezing spells . These are the emergency times when everyone in their trade is busy , and you can be sure that roofers , tree surgeons and central heating engineers who care about customer service will be looking after their regular customers first .
Some tasks require dry , mild weather to be completed – particularly exterior painting .
Plan ahead ! Get your central heating serviced over the summer , and get your roof examined and maintained every few years . If you have an open fireplace or hearth , get your chimney swept before the Autumn rush – chimney sweeps tend to be busy right through until Christmas , likewise for woodburner installations . If you know your fencing is unstable , call in an expert before it gets blown down in a storm .
The frequency of these tasks will vary according to usage ( chimneys , boilers ), or the age , condition and materials of your roof .
Gutters and drains should be checked and cleared twice a year ( Spring and Autumn ) to prevent clogging . Blocked gutters can lead to damp problems and damaged brickwork , potentially costing thousands . A seasonal gutter clean of tree debris and moss helps prevent this problem .
While clearing your gutters , why not also check the condition of your exterior paintwork , and your rendering ( exterior plasterwork ). Exterior painting or plastering will be much easier for your chosen contractor to schedule over the summer when ( hopefully ) there is less rain to disrupt progress . Cold weather in the winter means slow progress for external work on your buildings , particularly when condensation forms on walls .
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