Remember, if you put off things now you may end up having a much larger bill and greater problem later which may involve- for example- replacing windows or dealing withg damp problems. A stitch in time save nine!!

 

GUTTERS CLEANED:

Need to be cleared annually to prevent the build up of eartth, debris, moss and so on. Otherwise this can lead to blocked down-pipes and damp problems.

 

Once a year also the down pipes need to be checked for adequate soak-away. Water must be poured directly into the very top of the down pipe to ensure there is fast soak away. If it does not then debris may be blocking the down pipe. This can lead to rupture of joints, rotting, or damp walls later.

 

GUTTER/PIPES JOINTS:

If there is a drip coming from,  or any moisture near the joints, or appeanace of moss or peeling paint then you may have a rotten or ruptured joint or damaged seal. Get this repaired as soon as possible because delay can cause rust to the joints, or build up of damp on the brick work, moisture running down the walls and so on.

 

Check on a quarterly basis at least thatt all painted surfaces are sound and that nowhere is there any: peeling, cracking of paint or bare wood. Any such things need treatment before the onset of the next winter.

 

Check for any bare wood. Bare wood will in time lead to rot and an expensive bill for replacement of cills or windows etc. When was the exterior last painted?

 

Bubbling of paintwork may be an indication that there is wet rot or at least moisture retention under the surface or simply poor paint adhesion. Either way it need to be dealt with.

 

Ocsassionally gently prod the window cills, and the joints and he lower sections at the bottom of the window frames. If there is any softness then this can be the first stage of moisture retention by the wood leading in time to wet rot. The wood needs to be heat strippded, and sealent/hardener put on followed by primer and undercoat and top coat.

 

If the wood is actually crumbling wood, and there are gaps or broken small broken blocks of wood which is brown and dry then it is probably wet rot. If the area is small then can be dealt with relatively inexpensively by heat-treatment followed by chemical stabiliser, hardener, exterior wood filler, and then the usual full paint treatment as above.

 

If there is any loose or missing putty around the window panes then it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Moisture can otherwise build up and seep behind the glass leading to the wood rotting.

 

Possibly an indication of a leaking gutter or down pipe. If untreatred this can in time penetrate to the interior walls.

 

There should be  a complete unbroken seal of either cement or mastic filler between the brick work and the window frame.