It is not easy maintaining a home. It is not easy repairing a home. Unfortunately, if you have a home, you will need to keep on top of both. Usually the neglected repairs build over time, and are the most insidious. If you do not make the effort to proceed and repair the faults that could be hiding under the surface, you are likely to regret it.
This is not to be taken as scaremongering, rather a wake-up call. If you have otherwise been neglecting your property, either the home you live in or the properties you let out, you should get on it right away. When was the last time you did a deep check of the property you own? A while? It is not hard for other life responsibilities to pile up and make these duties completely take a rest in the deepest archives of your memory.
Luckily, this article will help you understand what you should be focusing on. Use this checklist when walking around your property upon your next inspection, and you can rest easy in the knowledge that your vigilant eye has been duly applied in this case.
Foundations
Over time, the sediment stability can change without you realizing. If it is an old house, the foundations might not be as sturdy as they once were. Stable foundations are the cornerstone (literally) of the entire house, and if there is an issue here, you are in for big trouble. If you even slightly expect that your house’s foundations should be re-assessed for quality and maintenance needs, you need to hire a professional firm as soon as possible.
They will either confirm your suspicions or put them at ease. Ask them how much does foundation repair cost, and how long the repairs will take. They are sure to be informative and help you through this process in the smoothest way possible.
Roofing
How is your roofing? How is your roofing felt? A leak here could cause damp and otherwise undercut the structural integrity of the beams holding your house up. Prolonged water damage can even moisten the walls to such a degree that they soften up and become completely unreliable from a safety perspective.
If you have experienced relatively harsh weather conditions lately, or you are concerned about a leak that has sprung up and you are not sure of the source, hire a roofing contractor to come and help you identify the problem.
Damp
Damp is the most insidious enemy of both property valuers and renovation construction workers alike. Not only will it compromise the stability of the structural fixtures that make up your home, but also left a while, the water will give off toxins from the bacteria that grow there. Bacteria loves warm, wet environments, and damp is both of those. Do not give yourself or your family a reason to contact this health hazard, and ensure that your house is well insulated.
Wall Cracks
If there are cracks in your walls, it might signify that the foundations have shifted, or that the landmass underneath your house is moving. In any case, it is a bad, bad, sign. Any wall cracks you identify should be assessed by a professional immediately and fixed immediately. Be sure to check behind furniture like wardrobes or shelving units to ensure that your walls are free from cracks. Check both exterior and interior walls every few months to make sure you are free from this issue.
Keep on top of these issues, and you can be sure that the major issues your household could experience are well observed. This will allow you to focus on the little repairs that are always present in any home. No one said owning a home would be easy!
