Now that the Melbourne Cup is over there’s never been a better time to catch up with maintenance around the home in preparation for the Christmas and summer holidays just around the corner. From small jobs to large projects, you can have your home looking like builders have just downed tools and finished work on the site.
Painting
We sun-loving Aussies will be flocking to the beach and backyard barbecues, but what damage are the Sun’s UV rays doing to your paintwork? You don’t want your precious home turning to wrack and ruin, so you will want to inspect your structures regularly for damage. Painting can feel like a laborious job but it actually serves a very useful purpose to protect against one of the harshest climates in the world and stop your exterior surfaces from cracking, peeling and blistering, resulting in water penetration into your woodwork, plus it’s a great opportunity to inspect surfaces both inside and out.
Besides which, painting improves the atmosphere in a home and a fresh coat is recommended if you want to increase curb appeal. When you take on a painting project to brighten up your home, it presents the opportunity to have a close inspection of those structures during surface preparation. Spring is a great time to tackle those interior walls that are beginning to look dull and lifeless. For the exteriors, you can touch up your door and window trims, and don’t forget to recoat your decking in time for all that backyard entertaining.
Clean & Check Guttering
Over the autumn and winter your guttering may have taken a bashing. Use a ladder to safely clean them out and check water flow, or bring in professionals to do the job for you. It’s a good time to get rid of all that built-up dirt and debris before it causes a blockage or damage to your downpipes.
When cleaning gutters, use a ladder that reaches high enough that you do not have to overstretch and put yourself in danger. Never position a ladder against guttering as you may unintentionally damage the very guttering you are trying to maintain.
Roof Inspection & Repair
The roof is a very important structure but it is often ignored when it comes to maintenance until disaster strikes. This is largely due to the roof being “out of sight, out of mind”. Even if you are an experienced handyperson, don’t take the risk of climbing on your roof to do a DIY inspection, as you could damage the roof in the process, or worse still, this action could result in serious injury or death.
Regular roof inspection is essential, for if repairs required, the cost of having the work carried out is much more affordable than the cost of water damage, should a heavy rain occur. You should have the roof of your home inspected every 3-5 years.
Check & Repair
Remember we talked about the bonus of inspecting interior and exterior surfaces? Take the time to check both inside and outside for signs of problems. Walls, doors, windows, house foundations, gates, and equipment such as air-conditioners and pool pumps are prone to damage and wear and always need basic maintenance to keep them functioning.
Going from roofs to roots – changing moisture levels or drought conditions resulting in soil movement around or beneath your home can cause cracks to form in walls and that’s before you consider intruding root systems. You can try to fix any minor problems yourself but if you detect signs of serious structural damage you should consider booking a building inspection, followed up by any necessary repairs to be carried out by a relevant professional.
Landscaping
If you haven’t already, think about tending to your landscaping before the summer heat hits, by cutting back long grass and mulching planting beds. There is still time for planting so you could have a healthy, green and vibrant garden by summer. This will provide you with a lush outdoor living space bringing cooling breezes into the home when the temperatures really begin to soar.
If while inspecting your home you find that major work is required, get it done sooner rather than later. What you spend now will save you further down the road. For all your building inspection needs, rely on Houspect Victoria to deliver excellence every time.
