It’s a great view

Posted on: 25 May 2016

The colder months can take their toll your home; wear and tear caused by rain, wind and lower temperatures can lead to a variety of issues, many of which are costly and time-consuming to fix. There are however, several things which you can do in the run up to the winter which will help to lessen the negative impact this season has on your property.

Clean the gutters and drains

Many homeowners fail to regularly clean out the gutters and drains of their house throughout the spring and summer. Whilst this is understandable—it certainly isn't the most enjoyable task, after all—it can cause serious problems when the temperatures begin to drop. Any dirt, leaves and other debris that have been left to fester will form blockages when the water that runs through them turns to ice. This can stop the drainage system from functioning, resulting in leaking or even flooding inside your home.

You can prevent this from happening by routinely tending to your gutters and drains during the warmer seasons; clear them out thoroughly about once a fortnight and make sure that the piping is properly aligned, so that the water flows across the joining pieces without leaking. Additionally, if you have any trees with branches that hang over the gutters, you might want to consider having them trimmed, as this will reduce the amount of leaves that need to be removed.

Keep the roof in good condition

You should carefully examine the roof of your house at least once a month, looking for potential issues which could lead to leakages come wintertime. Some of the things that you need to keep an eye out for include tiles that are either cracked or broken, bits of mortar missing from the chimney, and shingle granules; the latter resemble grains of sand—if you spot any of these in the gutters, it could be a sign that the tiles need to be replaced. Lastly, make sure to look for sagging along the roof line.

Should you spot any of these problems, get in contact with your local roofing services provider. They will able to carry out a full inspection and advise you on what work needs to be done to address any damage that is found.  Do not attempt to do this task yourself; not only is this dangerous, but without the necessary training it's also unlikely that you'll be able to complete the job to a high standard—this could lead to bigger repair bills later down the line.