The importance of property maintenance

Property maintenance is one of those jobs that most home owners tend to forget about or put off until another day. Every day our surveyors come across properties in need of remedial treatments as a result of neglecting property maintenance. Below we have an example of one such building.

This property in the West Midlands needed our expert attention as a result of prolonged rain water ingress as a result of defective and blocked external guttering. The rain water ingress caused moisture inside the building which helped provided the ideal climate for dry rot fungus to grow. Dry rot requires 3 things for growth: water, air and a source of food – all of which were present in this property and caused the dry rot fungus to take hold. (To learn more about the life cycle of dry rot click here or to view our on line CPD seminar on the life cycle of dry rot click here.)

The floor boards, walls and skirting are all showing signs of water ingress damage.

The dry rot sporophores are clearly visible on the skirting board above.

Simple property care checks for a healthy property

To help keep your property in top condition there are a few simple checks that can help:

• A rainy day is the ideal time to check the rain water goods on your property. Check for over flowing blocked gutters and water running down the drainpipes.
• Any parts or joints of the guttering that are leaky should be replaced. If there is no option but to repair the failed parts of the system the parts should be renewed and made water tight as soon as possible.
• Visually check the roof for missing or slipped tiles.
• Windows and doors made of wood should be checked and repaired where cracked or rotton.
• Check that that damp proof course has not been bridged at all, for example by flowerbeds. The rising of the external ground level over the damp proof course could result in water penetration in to the wall and in turn lead to dampness spoiling internal decorations and in some cases dry rot or wet rot effecting ground floor timbers.
• Check the sub-floor for adequate ventilation. Obstructed or blocked up fresh air inlets should be cleared otherwise you have the ideal breeding ground for dry rot or wet rot in ground floor timbers.
• Bathrooms and areas where there are sinks are also areas that regular checking. Defective bath / shower wall seals can result in creating the breeding conditions for dry rot. It is vital to keep on top of seals by checking them on a regular basis and renewing every 3 to 5 years.

If you discover any problems with damp, water ingress or dry rot in your property simply give Timberwise a call on 0800 288 8660 or request a survey on-line.