We all know, home maintenance should be done as a preventative measure to ensure the longevity of your home, but if you find yourself behind the 8-ball this winter here are some helpful tips.
Winter in the Far North, traditionally meant rain and lots of it. Although we’ve started off dry this autumn, it seems June has switched on a cool wet winter for us now.
Leaks, dampness and surface water are all things to watch for and address immediately if noticed in and around your home. Left untreated these all can turn a great home into a maintenance nightmare quickly.
Here are some Inti Construction tips for keeping your home in tip top shape this winter!
Far North,NZ winter rain showers are wonderful but not if you have a leak in your roof!
Winter is here, in the 'Winterless Far North' and while rain is wonderful it can sometimes highlight urgently needed home maintenance.
The weather has been unseasonably dry for the last wee while, so the recent rain we’ve experienced has been great to fill the water tanks and water the gardens. Sometimes though, after a long dry period, upon the first heavy rain you may discover a leak in your roof.
If you notice drips inside it's a good idea to check the roof for damaged plastic washers or loosened screws first off, when the weather is fine again. After dry or hot weather, they may need tightening or replacing. Remember safety first when using ladders or getting on your roof. Its always good to have another person there to assist you.
If you’ve done all you can and still have a leak or have extensive water damage inside and need an expert builder to stop the leak and get your interior looking good again call Inti Construction.
Not only is a dry home much healthier for you, it’s much better for the building as well.
According to Statistics NZ, the average rain fall for the Far North in Winter is 375-750mm!
Northern winters are damp already, add in a poorly ventilated house, throw in people living-breathing, cooking, showering, hanging wet clothes inside to dry and you have one very damp house in need of ventilation assistance.
Not only is a dry home healthier for you but the building will last longer if it remains dry and well maintained also. Mould and mildew thrive in damp environments eating away at the home’s timber, flooring, walls etc. Minimal dampness may be unavoidable but there are things you can do to help your house stay a bit more dry this winter.
Some easy things you can do inside to lesson dampness are, avoid hanging wet laundry inside and run extractor fans in the bathroom during showers and in the kitchen while cooking to draw out moisture. Energywise is a great resource on how to keep your home dry.
Lastly, but also extremely important to remedy if noticed, is water pooling or poor drainage creating damp and wet areas around the exterior of your home.
Fixing wet areas outside your home
If you notice a particularly wet area outside your home, there may be some more substantial changes that can give your home or any structure a tremendous amount of relief from dampness and pooling water.
Firstly, putting spouting on the building if there is none can redirect water to a more useful location such as a storage tank or if not suitable for storage away from the building at the very least. Another more substantial change to solve water problems could be the introduction of drainage. Earth works around your home, redirecting rain water flow and runoff form the land may seem like a costly exercise but if it saves your home from rotting from the ground up it's a worthwhile investment. Any, all, or a combination of these suggestions may greatly benefit an area that is habitually wet in the rainy seasons.
If you’re struggling with a roof leak or have a dampness problem in or around your home that you need and expert to remedy, get in touch with Inti Construction we're local (Far North) and have experience transforming leaky homes into warmer, dryer, healthier homes.
Contact us today!
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