We started at the top for our annual home maintenance inspection, as there's
no better place to start when thinking about what needs to be fixed in and
around the home.
But before we get down to the bottom of the ladder there are a few things
that we can check on the way.
BALCONIES
If you live in a double-storey home, or have an apartment above or below,
you may also have a balcony. Many tend to forget that these need annual
inspection.
Railings should be inspected for any signs of rust and treated accordingly. Rust-Oleum
have a range of Stops Rust products that neutralise and strip
rust to prepare it for repainting. And repainting railings or balustrades is as
easy as visiting your local Builders
Warehouse to check out the range of Rust-Oleum products.
Check that grout on a tiled balcony is in good condition. Where grout
has failed you will have water seepage through the floor, not only eventually
causing damage to the floor, but also water damage underneath. Patch up damaged
grout with new and apply a sealer over the grout. Also be sure to check around
the outside edges of tiles to ensure that a waterproof seal sits around the
tiles.
WOODEN WINDOW AND DOOR FRAMES
Many homeowners are under the misconception that a coat of sealer or
varnish is all that's needed on wood. That's probably why a lot of homes sit
with window frames and doors that soak up moisture and swell, warp, or show
signs of rot.
Applying sealer is an annual project that is essential if you want to timber
window frames and doors to look beautiful and be protected against the
elements.
Annual maintenance is not that difficult if you use the right product
from the start. When using Woodoc Sealer, all that is required is to wipe down
timber window frames and doors with Woodoc steelwool and mineral turpentine,
before applying new sealer to beautify and protect.
And contrary to popular belief, varnishing your wooden window frames and
doors won't save you time. As timber expands and contracts, varnish will crack
and peel, allowing moisture ingress which can eventually result in wood that
goes black because it is infected with rot.
Save yourself time and money by regularly maintaining your timber window
frames and doors with Woodoc exterior sealers.
STEEL WINDOW FRAMES
When left unprotected, steel will start to rust. Even where a small
area of paint has flaked off, if water and oxygen have access to steel rust
will occur. This is even more so at the coast, where salt speeds up the rust
process.
Annual inspection and touch up of painted steel window frames, or steel
burglar bars, gates, railings and pallisade fencing will not only protect
against rust, it will also extend the life of your paint job and reduce the
amount of work you need to spend on sanding down and repainting.
Don't put that ladder away just yet. If you have exterior structures
and buildings these still need to be checked. Pergolas, Garden Sheds and Huts
and your Garage should also be inspected at least once a year.
Set aside one day each year, just before the end of winter, to walk around
and inspect the exterior of your home from top to bottom.