PCA offers Property Health Tips for National Maintenance Week

The Property Care Association – the trade body for building preservation in the UK – has drawn up a list of easy steps householders can take to stop winter taking its toll on their homes in line with National Maintenance Week.

Running from 20 to 27 November, National Maintenance Week is an annual event organised by The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB).

SPAB’s 2009 campaign is designed to promote awareness of the simple, economic and achievable maintenance steps that can be taken in autumn to stave off costly major faults and damage at a later date. This year it is supported by TV property expert Phil Spencer, a trained building surveyor,

In line with the campaign, The Property Care Association (PCA), which represents the structural waterproofing, wood preservation, damp-proofing, flood remediation and structural maintenance sectors, has drawn up a five-point check list of the cost effective things property owners can do to stop future problems in their tracks.

1. Drains - Ensure drains remain clear of leaves and other debris, to enable water to escape from a building quickly, particularly during heavy downpours.

2. Roofs – Check lead-work and roof tiling is in good condition and able to withstand the wind as well as the rain.  If anything is loose or worn, water will find its way in.

3. Gutters – Ensure these are free from moss, leaves and other debris - and all properly connected up - to give water a fast exit from the building.

4. Pointing – Monitor a property’s pointing and rendering regularly, as this is another area that can cause problems.

5. Chimneys – Poor flashing on chimney breasts can let water stream into a property – this is a common problem area.

Yasmin Chopin, chief executive of the PCA, said: “This checklist offers some simple steps homeowners can take to protect their property against the nation’s weather.

“By dealing with problems at an early stage, homeowners could ward off the need for more extensive repairs in the future.

“The key is to inspect regularly and prevent water entering a building.
 
“If in doubt, contact a member of the PCA, to get the problem accurately diagnosed.”

The PCA is a member of TrustMark the scheme supported by Government, to help property owners find reliable and trustworthy tradespeople to make home improvements.

More details about National Maintenance Week are available at www.spab.org.uk