Property Maintenance Tasks for February

Winter’s always a busy time for property maintenance tasks, especially as we move towards spring. Fluctuations in temperature and unpredictable weather mean it’s even more important to keep a close eye on your property and be prepared for anything. One minute pouring rain and howling gales are playing havoc with your roof, the next snow and ice are cracking your concrete and bursting your pipes. So, here are a few things to check on in February.

• The roof: give your roof a regular once over, particularly after stormy weather. Loose slates, cracked pointing and damaged chimney stacks need sorting out quickly before they cause a lot more damage. It’s a good idea to get up into the loft and do a quick check for leaks too.
• Damp and condensation: Water can get in here, there and everywhere in winter. That horizontal British rain has a way of finding its way into all the weak spots on your property. Keep your eyes open for damp patches or mould on walls, floors, ceilings and around windows and seal up any holes or cracks. It’s also useful to check and clean ventilation systems; if they’re clogged up that could be the reason for excess damp and condensation in the building.
• Pipes: you never know when you’ll get a sudden cold snap, so check the lagging on your pipes if you don’t want a big leak and an even bigger headache.
• Drainage and gutters: leaves, don’t you just love them? Regular drainage clearance is a recommended throughout the winter to get rid of all the leaves, moss, sticks and other debris that ends up in the guttering. Drainage pipes and surface drains also need to be kept clear and flowing freely to keep all that water moving away from your property.
• Fences, gates, sheds: Damp weather and winter winds can really take a toll on wooden structures like fences, gates and sheds. Even if you’ve treated them properly before winter kicked in, it’s worth making sure they’re still safe and stable. If there are any dodgy looking trees or loose branches anywhere on the property, get rid of them before they come crashing down.
• Windows: look for cracks in the glass, damaged frames, mould or gaps in the sealant and make running repairs if you can’t do full-scale ones until the weather improves.
• Concrete damage: concrete can get damaged when it expands and contracts due to temperature changes, so it’s worth inspecting. Loose concrete on entry ways and steps can be particularly dangerous, so make sure you keep a close eye and repair damage quickly.
• Outside lighting: There are still plenty of long, dark nights ahead, so any outside lights need to be tested to ensure everyone can access the premises safely.
• Paintwork: Frost and ice can give your exterior paintwork a bit of a hard time. A once over of the exterior will give you an idea of what’ll need doing once the weather gets better. If damp or mould is a problem inside, you can add interior decorating to the schedule for the coming months.

Emergency and scheduled property maintenance

Regular maintenance checks are essential but are especially important in colder months. If you don’t catch issues as they crop up, it could leave you with a big problem to sort out and an even bigger hole in your budget.

If you need emergency repairs or help with the regular upkeep of your property, we can help. Our maintenance engineers are on call to get things sorted when you need us. Just get in touch with our Helpdesk team for more information.