Can You Spot The 5 Problems With This Picture?
17 October 2016
To the untrained naked eye, the picture above shows a typical, idyllic domestic setting, featuring a mother and daughter reading a story besides a roaring fire. Yet not all is as well as it seems! Unknown to them they are blissfully unaware of the 5 potential property horrors that are surrounding them and hidden in plain view. What are the potential problems? Study the picture above and let’s see if you can pass the test…
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Untreated Timber
Let's face it, nothing beats sitting around the fire on a cold autumnal night whilst watching episode after episode of your favourite Tv Series. But, have you ever given any thought to what else could be in that basket of logs?
Every winter we see an increase in people finding woodworm in their log basket! As firewood tends to be a hardwood, the range of possible beetle species is limited, however, Forest Longhorn, Woodboring Weevils, and Death Watch beetle are all known to infest hardwood.
Check out our tips for keeping fire wood in the house
Bird Control
You may find perched on your window ledge some unexpected visitors in the form of birds. Although attractive to have visiting your garden there are a number of potential problems our flying friends can cause to your health and to your property.
Birds can cause damage to rain goods which can then also lead to further problems such as water ingress and penetrating damp. Bird fouling can damage architectural features on buildings but more importantly, their droppings can create slip hazards, as well as been hazardous to health so if you a have recently started a new family, this may be worth thinking about.
Find Out More About Bird Proofing
Drying Clothes On Radiators With No Ventilation
It’s simply too cold to dry your clothes outside and the tumble dryer is using too much energy. Where are you going to dry your clothes?
Most of you will suggest hanging them inside the bathroom or perhaps to hang them on a radiator to dry, and there’s no problem with that as long as you allow adequate ventilation to occur.
Failure to allow for proper ventilation will result in the build up of moisture laden air trapped in the property (otherwise known as condensation), which will then materialise onto cold surfaces such as walls and windows. Condensation is the major cause of black spot mould occurring in properties. Black spot mould can be seen occurring in the top right corner of the picture.
Leaking Radiator
In the build up to the cooler autumnal and winter months, you should have your central heating checked and serviced to make sure there are no potential problems with your heating system. A leaking radiator valve, no matter how small the leak, can lead to damp problems occurring. A small damp issue can if left unchecked then progress into more serious problems taking place such as wood rot.
Damp Tide Line On Wall
If you have noticed a discolouring of your interior wall, this is likely due to water rising through the fabric of your wall.
There are certain checks for damp that you can do yourself without the assistance of a surveyor, or the use of any kind of gadget. Simply looking and running your hands around the suspected rising damp area will allow you to see any visible signs of damp, as well as touch indicators such as bumps or air pockets in the wallpaper.
Do you need help with a property care problem?
If you are concerned or have any questions about a potential problem that is occurring in your home, please feel free to chat directly to one of our property care team who would be delighted to help you further. Simply request a property survey online and we’ll arrange a convenient time to visit you and your property to obtain a better understanding of the property issues you have. Alternatively, give us a call on 0800 288 8660 and speak direct to your local team of Timberwise specialists. If you are looking for a great resource for home and garden supplies and services have a look at Home and Garden Directory.
