Winter frost has finally hit us; we are getting icy roads and snow throughout England. It’s arrived a bit late but we couldn’t delay the inevitable of a cold winter. Is your house protected from the worst of the winter weather this year?
Start with the following for the exterior of your property:
Check Loose Roof Tiles
A loose, cracked or missing roof tile can be massively damaging to your property. Given how difficult it is to access your roof, damaged tiles can be easily overlooked. An early indication of trouble is the smell of dampness in the loft. If you can smell damp then you should definitely consider checking for damp patches. Spotted early, this problem can be resolved quickly by patching or replacing tiles.
Check Gutters
During autumn, fallen leaves can clog up gutters. As seemingly innocuous as these harmless-looking leaves may seem, they can have a disastrous knock-on effect. Clogged drainpipes force rainwater to take an alternative route, which unfortunately means it will run down exterior brickwork and over time, potentially cause water damage. At its worst, even creating cracks in the mortar and bricks. During the winter this is amplified with the freeze-thawing process, and the bricks and mortar will become progressively worse. This can all be prevented by clearing the gutters out, thus allowing the rainwater to run fluidly. To check that the water goes down the correct channels, pour some water in the gutter and see if it runs away to the downpipe rather than leaking from the gutter via another route.
Waterproof Your Property
Waterproofing your brickwork will prevent water from seeping into your home and wreaking havoc. Waterproofing can also help marginally with your heating bills, as it better insulates your property.
Sealing the exterior brickwork can be achieved by painting it with a specialised outdoor paint. It’s a big task to carry out on your own, but it can be done if you’re willing to put the work in. These tips will help you get started:
- Plan and schedule the job. Splitting the job into smaller workloads will prevent it from feeling like an insurmountable task.
- Split the surface area into smaller sections. For example, take a picture of the outside of your house and draw squared sections covering the picture. Then you separate the job into smaller, achievable segments.
If you are considering covering your home with weatherproof coatings – and don’t want to go through the hassle of carrying out the arduous work yourself – get in touch with All Weather Coating.
Check Exposed Pipes
As the temperature drops during the winter the water pipes are at a greater risk of freezing, which can lead to bursting. To protect your home in the worst of the winter weather you must ensure that exposed water pipes are insulated efficiently, to stop them from freezing. Here are some simple materials you can use to protect your pipes: flexible foam, foil-backed natural cotton, rubber pipe insulation tape, bubble wrap or foam and foil pipe insulation.
All of the above will take time, effort, and perhaps some financial outlay, but in the long run this will be well worthwhile as it can prevent serious problems and ultimately save you money.
Protecting Your Home From The Worst Of The Winter Weather