Spring is in the Air

Winter weather can result in a huge amount of damage to properties. Research done by M&S Money showed that weather conditions have resulted in home insurance claims for weather damage now exceeding £600 million per year.

With this in mind, spring is a great time of year to have a good look round your house and garden, make note of any damage done and make plans for any maintenance required.  You should do the following:

• identify any loose slates/tiles and check the overall condition of the roof
• clear gutters to ensure they are clean and in good condition
• check the condition of the chimney – both the external brickwork and the internal flue.  If you have a coal fire or woodburning stove you should get your chimney swept regularly
• look round all the external walls to check for loose areas in the brickwork/roughcast etc
• check any exterior timber – look for signs of weather damage or decay
• check patios/driveways for loose or broken areas

From these checks you can then identify which tasks need done to ensure that your property is well maintained and ready to face next winter.  Many tasks that may need done can easily be done by the householder – spring and summer are a great time for getting these jobs done