We’ve had a dry summer and the good weather was largely extended into the Autumn months, so now is the perfect time to get any last minute roof and external maintenance done before the weather turns and becomes dangerous for ladder users.

Time to Get Organised

Gutter clearing, window repairs and roof maintenance are a few of the jobs that need doing before the winter; a leaking roof or missing tile might not pose a problem in the summer, but leaving that problem over the winter will ensure you have a larger and more costly repair to do come spring. Therefore, it is a good idea to make a list of all the tasks that need doing on the outside of the home, as well as indoor tasks like chimney sweeping and boiler servicing as you prepare for winter. Allocate a time frame to each task and work out when you can get them done, or when you can hire the appropriate people for the job. Once you have done this, the duty of maintaining your home won’t seem like an insurmountable obstacle.

Getting the chimney swept first is a good idea. At this time of year it can be hard to find a sweep with any time available to do the job before you want to light the fire for the first time, so arranging this for late summer is advisable. In older houses it makes even more sense, as you can light the fire and check that there are no structural problems with the flue before winter sets in.

If there are things to fix on the chimney stack they can be done at the same time as any roof repairs, as you will only need to access the roof for one weekend to get all the work done. You will need an extension ladder and roof ladder at the bare minimum and possibly a scaffold tower depending on the scale of works to the chimney and any exterior walls. A universal roof hook turns any straight metal ladder into a roof ladder by clamping on to the top rungs and providing the hook and wheels needed to position and secure a ladder over the roof ridge.

Ladders and Buckets…Oh My!

Before you start work, make a list of the equipment and materials you will need, and ensure that you can safely transport all this onto the roof. At this stage you might want to reconsider your access method, as carrying heavy buckets up a ladder can be dangerous and it can be safer to use a scaffold that provides a more stable base, which can be used as part of a rope and pulley system to save you the effort of hauling equipment up manually. Check that you can get hold of anything you need before you start work, as a whole project can be thrown off course by missing materials or tools.

While you are working on the roof, pay extra care to the guttering to avoid damaging it. If you have the time, it is worth clearing out the guttering while you have the ladders or scaffold tower out, as you will save yourself the time of setting all the access equipment up again. Always do the guttering after carrying out any roof repairs; this way any debris from the maintenance work can be cleared from the guttering and you will be able to repair any accidental damage at the same time.

You can hire companies to clean your guttering for you if you don’t need to carry out any roof repairs, and don’t want to do it yourself. As with chimney sweeps, they will be pretty busy this time of year, so try and get this scheduled as soon as possible. It may even be worth booking a yearly slot for this work for peace of mind.

Other Things to Think About

Other external repairs that might need to be carried out are wall cracks and window problems, such as cracked glass or loose panes. It is best to get professionals to replace panes of glass, as they have all the equipment to cut the glass exactly to size, and they have all the materials to fit it. Loose panes can be fixed with glazing putty quite easily by the homeowner. Cracks in external walls should be checked by a builder, to ensure there is no serious damage.

Every property is different, and while most people will be familiar with the issues around external walls, windows, guttering and roof surfaces there may be other issues that apply to certain types of building. For example, thatched roofs do not have guttering attached to the house; instead the guttering is a channel on the ground into which the thatch drains away. There is no need to use a ladder to clean out this type of gutter, but there is also more chance of organic matter and leaf debris getting clogged up in the drainage channels in this system. Similarly, you will not be able to use a ladder to carry out any roof repairs; that is a job is for trained thatchers. Because there are very few left in the country, it is wise to book thatching repairs and re-roofing well in advance. Older homes with multiple extensions may be more prone to roof leaks, as joins in between roof surfaces can trap water which eventually leaks down into the house. Homeowners with solar panels on the roof may find they need to clean the panels regularly to keep them working well. You know your home best, and what work it needs, just make sure you’re organised about it, and it won’t be an arduous task.