Home care tips

Gutters and Fall pipes

The one single, most common piece of advice that we as conservators give to our clients, is a simple one. Guttering and down pipes need to be regularly checked and cleared. So that rainwater is properly taken away from the building. The constant over flowing of water after every rain fall, on to the exterior of your historic home, due to the gathering of debris in gutters and blocked down pipes, can lead to an internal issue with damp. Likewise, splashing or dripping caused by cracked and corroded iron gutters, or badly fitted plastic ones. Will also lead overtime to much more serious issues, both inside and out.
Penetrating damp, spalled brickwork, flaking paintwork and even the decay of major timber components of the structure, are just some of the problems we are asked to consult upon. which a simple maintenance programme could have prevented.
Sadly, it is often only when there are serious issues, that we are called upon to try and solve the much more complex problem which has arisen over time.

WiNdows

The modern obsession with drafts, has had a disastrous effect upon many of our nations Historic homes and has worryingly led to houses being effectively hermetically sealed. Windows painted shut or fixed, secondary double glazing that cannot be easily opened, have both contributed to the buildup of damp air being unable to easily escape.
Everyday modern life, means many homes now have multiple shower and bathrooms and the drying of clothing inside rather than outside as would have been done historically. Combine to create trapped moisture, which has no where to go and so settles on the nearest cold surface. This creates damp pockets in corners and at low and high level and most often on the North facing elevations. Which may very well go un noticed until one day, the telltale signs such as the smell of damp when entering the house, dark patches on the walls and the appearance of salts forming on plasterwork, are noticed by home owners and frequently by prospective home buyers, during viewings.
Open windows, if only for a short while each day, even during winter. This allows for the most natural, ventilation of moist moist air and is remarkably cost effective too. As yet again, once damp is established, it is a far harder problem to solve.

Ground levels

Perhaps the simplest of all and the most frequently overlooked, is to keep an eye on ground levels and vegetation next to the fabric of the building. It is essential to ensure that the ground level does not cover air vents or over time creep up the foundations of your home and keep in check climbers and bushes adjacent to the walls, as both trap moisture and create shade, which in turn can lead to spalling of the fabric of your home. Once a year a small amount of time spent with a shovel or a pair of secateurs, is far preferable to the effects of dealing with penetrating damp and the resulting time and costs of having remedial work done to sort out the problem. Which like all forms of damp, is usually only noticed when there has become an issue.

If you need more information on any aspect of caring for your old home, or you believe one of these may apply to your house, or perhaps you already have a problem that you are unsure how to resolve, then contact us for a consultation.

Contact us today on Telephone 07748758569 or Email rolandlocke@hbcandr.com