You Need to Know These Structural Repair and Maintenance Tips
If your a homeowner, then you have undoubtedly realized that there is more to structural repairs than simply fixing leaky pipes or replacing your roof. You need to know about the other necessary maintenance tasks that will keep your house in great shape for years to come!
This blog post will give you some helpful tips on what to look out for.
Why might your house have these structural problems?
There are many reasons why structural problems can arise in a house, but the most common are ageing, improper maintenance to the exterior repairs.
Ageing: The materials used to build houses (brickwork, wood) will weaken as they age. This is because of natural wear and tear from everyday environmental factors like wind or changes in humidity levels.
Improper Maintenance: Problems often occur when homeowners neglect their structural repairs for too long! Ignoring these issues will result in more expensive fixes down the line, so it’s essential not to be lazy with your upkeep! One example would be failing to fix water damage such as leaking pipes or cracks formed on walls due to moisture collecting over an extended period. These types of water intrusion require immediate attention since mould growth can cause huge issues down the road.
Exterior Repairs: If you’ve noticed cracks on your exterior brickwork, it’s a sign that the mortar between them has weakened. This can occur for various reasons, including structural movement or environmental factors like wind or changes in humidity levels. To fix this problem, you’ll need to remove the top layer of mortar and replace it with new material before reporting (or filling) the cracks inside.
How to notice if your house has any structural issues
- Bulges and cracks are a common structural issue. This can be caused by structural movement (such as settling) or environmental factors like wind, rain, and humidity levels.
- Problems Doors and windows that are starting to bind can be caused by structural movement or changes in the property.
- Problems Tapered cracks running diagonally from the corner of doors or windows can be caused by moisture coming through a window seal and drying out, causing the wood to shrink over time. Still, it may also indicate that there is an unequal settlement on either side of this door.
- Cracked render or plaster around the top of a window indicates that the ground outside has risen and cracked the wall.
- Cracks in chimney stacks are a structural issue caused by movement, settling or changes to the property. Cracked brickwork on chimneys may also indicate someone is using it like a ladder at night – they’ve been climbing up there without permission!
- Floors starting to slope is another huge sign that you have structural problems which need to be addressed.
Let’s look at some of these issues in more detail and few standard extras:
Bulges and cracks in your walls
If you see any cracks or bulges appearing on your walls, then this is a most likely sign that the structural parts of your home are unstable. There has been a huge increase in older houses in London starting to show signs of cracks in the brickwork, so get an expert and go local when so get structural repairs London.
The best way to fix this problem is to get an expert straight away, as it could be due to so many different factors, such as subsidence or timber shrinking over time. You may also have a leak coming from somewhere not too far from where you see these cracks and bulges appearing on the wall.
If you live near water, there’s more chance for damage, leading to cracks and other structural issues with your property.
It goes with out saying, that if you end up noticing any unevenness when walking around inside your house, then another issue might need addressing – make sure it doesn’t become worse before getting someone who is a professional involved!
Also, when you see a crack, take a pen where the crack ends and mark it, put a date in its position so you can see if the crack is getting worse, and when you get a structural engineer out, they can also see the speed at which your house is being affected.
How trees cause structural issues
Some of the structural issues trees can cause are sudden structural movement due to tree root intrusion.
Damage from broken or damaged branches
Invasive roots and rot that can cause structural instability of your home’s foundations.
Trees mustn’t be allowed to grow close enough to the house, so they do not damage it. So if you see this, then you need to get someone out to look at the tree. Prevention is better than cure.
Also, don’t forget about checking gutters around outside windows either – if these don’t work, then water will collect at the top, and when there’s enough rain from heavy storms, for example, this might lead to more damage inside.
These are just some examples of what happens if tree maintenance is not taken care of.
What can you do to reduce structural issues?
The best way to reduce structural issues is by following a regular maintenance plan. Just because there are no apparent signs of any structural isn’t an excuse to avoid getting on a ladder to clean your gutters, making sure no trees are getting too big and close to your home and checking for any damage on the exterior of your house. These are all things that can be done with ease every few months or even once a year, depending on how often heavy storms come through town.
There will never be one surefire way to avoid structural issues in homes, but following these tips should reduce the odds! It is far cheaper to get an expert in early than letting a problem persist and become a significant issue.
Homeowners, make sure to take care of your home by following some of these tips. As you maintain the house you have worked so hard for over the years, you must be proactive and also stay on top of all necessary repairs to avoid future problems. This blog post will give you a few helpful pointers about what needs to be done and how often!