home improvement service

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1 Dudley home improvement service A homeowner s guide to maintaining your home call visit pshdudley@dudley.gov.uk

2 The information contained in this leaflet is intended to help you to keep both the inside and outside of your home in good, sound condition. It should help you to easily identify solutions to potential home maintenance problems and suggests remedial works or repairs that may be required. If you are struggling to manage repairs needed in your home our home improvement service can help you to find reliable, approved contractors and tradespersons. We can also provide advice on our home improvement assistance scheme or grants that may be available. Our home improvement service offers a range of services to homeowners (and private rental tenants responsible for their rental homes maintenance) throughout Dudley Borough. Our staff offer impartial advice and practical assistance to make your home a better place to live in. Please feel free to contact us for more information. We hope you find this guide useful and suggest that you keep it in a safe place for future reference. More information on home maintenance can be found in DIY stores, on the internet, or a good DIY book is always a useful purchase. Outside your home Bricks, blocks and rendering External brickwork, block work and rendering can all be damaged by water and cold temperatures causing freezing. The surface of these materials can begin to flake off as a result. Spallling can also be caused by frost where rainwater freezes within a brick and expansion forces the surface to break off. Other potential problems can be efflorescence a white, salty strain on new brick walls, or mould growth on walls as a result of moisture in the air. Have a good look at your external walls and check that: Pointing (the layers of mortar between the bricks) is in good condition Walls are free from moss or green algae Any rendering isn t cracked or loose Brickwork isn t absorbing excess rainwater. Check for leaking roofs or gutters The damp proof course isn t defective There are no cracks in the brickwork Solutions The only way to deal with damaged bricks which are flaking from excessive moisture absorption is to replace the damaged bricks or to consider rendering If pointing is in poor condition consider re-pointing. Any good bricklayer will be happy to do this Repair any cracks in rendering immediately before water gets in and damages a bigger area Fix any leaking roofs or gutters, then ensure that damp bricks dry out fully Investigate promptly any cracked brickwork it could indicate problems with the foundation of your home. Seek advice from a professional surveyor Remove any mould growth. It can be removed with a stiff brush using dilute household liquid bleach Gutters Paintwork Many homes now have UPVC doors and windows which require very little maintenance. If you have wooden doors and windows however these will need protecting from the weather. This involves regular painting with an oil based paint, varnish or stain. Three layers of paint is advised a primer, undercoat and topcoat. It s best to do this at the end of the summer giving it time to dry out. Have a good look at your external paintwork and check that: Mastic around windows and doorframes isn t cracked or missing Putty isn t cracked or missing Paint isn t flaking or blistered Timber isn t rotted or any knots bleeding Timber is regularly treated with suitable paint, preservatives or stain Gutters are the channels around the edges of roofs which collect rainwater. Leaves and rubbish can collect here and block the flow of water down pipes, water will then overflow and run down the outside walls of your home damaging bricks and mortar. Ideally gutters should be cleaned out once a year and repaired if sagging. Check the your gutters: Aren t blocked, sagging, rotting or loose Joins are properly sealed Are regularly painted with suitable preservatives if cast iron. Plastic gutter will not require this Drains Drains are the pipes taking waste water from your home. These then join the other drains from adjacent homes and that forms a sewer. You are responsible for the proper maintenance of drains that run from your property; even if the drain inspection cover is not located on your property. Common drain problems include tree roots, or shifting earth causing blockages or collapsing of drains; resurfaced drives blocking drains (water must be able to flow freely into a drain) and trees planted too close to the house causing drain obstructions. Remember if drains do block clearing blockages can be messy and difficult, you should consider using a specialist contractor. If you do attempt it, cover up, wear overalls and rubber gloves. Have a look round your drains and check that: The gully isn t blocked scoop out any debris and pour down a bucket of caustic soda There are no stains underneath taps and traps under sinks, basins or baths aren t blocked a plunger may clear these Pipes are fully lagged to prevent freezing and bursting

3 Roofs Chimney stacks Chimneys are exposed to all weathers and can become dangerous. Common problems include loose pots, blocked flues, cracked brickwork and damaged flashing. Signs of damaged chimneys include damp patches on the chimney breast and/or party walls in bedrooms. You can inspect your chimney stack by standing on the opposite footpath. If it is damaged do not consider repairing it yourself specialist skills are required working at height and a specialist contractor should always be used. Always look after your homes roof. Loose tiles or leaks in flat roofs can get much worse over time and become expensive to repair. On pitched roofs, tiles can become broken or can slip off. This can cause damp patches to appear on the ceiling below the roof. Generally however pitched roofs require little maintenance. Flat roofs however generally have a life of years provided laid properly. If the roofing felt is lifted up, ripped up or torn or if water is gathering in pools on the roof, it needs relaying. Inside your home Decorating Most people can learn how to decorate their home. Having a well decorated home will help add value and make it a nicer place to live in. There s a lot on information and advice available to ensure that you make a good job of decorating your home. Always make sure that you leave plenty of time for preparation and always follow any manufacturer instructions when using paint, paste and wallpaper. When decorating look out and check that: Knots in any timber being painted aren t bleeding. If they are, strip to bare wood, apply shellac knotting (sealer) to the knots, prime and repaint There are no problems such as dampness or cracking in the plasterwork. If plaster is really damaged you should contact a professional plasterer Condensation and damp Condensation and damp are two very different conditions, dealt with in different ways. Condensation This is water that forms when damp air hits a cold surface. Washing, cooking and drying clothes in the home all cause condensation. Too much condensation can damage your home and even your health. Excess moisture can cause your doors and window frames to rot. It also provides the ideal conditions for mould to form, especially mildew, which causes black patches on wallpaper and fabric. Some mould spores can be bad for the lungs and can cause breathing problems. To prevent condensation: Keep the bathroom door shut and always open a window after a bath or shower Put lids on saucepans when cooking and open a window Dry clothes outside wherever possible Ensure that air bricks and double glazing vents are clear Make sure your roof space is properly vented Improve the insulation to your home this helps cut down on condensation. Damp This is water getting into the home either from above via a leaky roof, water overflowing from blocked gutters or damaged flashing, or rising up from the ground through walls or the floors. Damp rising from the ground can be caused by soil piled up next to walls, a damaged damp proof course, hard surfaces such as paths draining water towards the house, plumbing leaks or blocked drains. Signs of damp can be stain marks and a damp, musty smell. To prevent damp: Repair your damp proof course if damaged Clear any soil away from the walls of your house, keeping the damp proof course clear Clean out air bricks at least once a year Make sure paths slope away from your home Fit extractor fans in your kitchen and bathroom Don t ignore blocked or missing air bricks, damaged external paintwork, rotten or leaking windows, blocked or broken guttering, damaged roofs or old chimneys getting these problems fixed now will save money in the long run Insulation Insulating your home will save money, help stop pipes freezing and help prevent damp and condensation. We can advise on grants available to help pay for insulation, including details of a government scheme called Warm Front. Contact us for more information, also see our leaflet A homeowners guide to an energy efficient home. Review your home s insulation and check that: The loft is fully insulated particularly close to the eaves. Insulation should be at least 12 inches (300mm) thick Floorboards aren t loose or draughty There is no dampness coming through a solid floor The floor has sufficient insulation The hot water tank and pipes are fully lagged Floor rot Floors can quickly become unsafe because of wet rot, dry rot or insect attack usually woodworm.

4 Wet rot Wet rot is more common and is caused by wood persistently getting wet and so decomposing. Tell tale signs are wood darkening and becoming soft like a sponge. It s vital that you find out where any water is coming from, as soon as you suspect wet rot and rectify that. The rotten wood will then need to be cut away and replaced. Dry rot Dry rot is a less common problem. It is a type of mould growth that needs the right conditions to grow. Tell tale signs are wood that cracks across the grain and an accompanying musty smell. It s caused by damp wood and poor circulation. Dry rot isn t easy to detect as it usually attacks wood hidden from sight and it can affect adjoining houses as well as moving from cellar to roof space. Damp and ventilation problems will need resolving and the affected area will need to be cut out and sterilised. This work is best left to an expert as it involves chemical treatment. Always obtain an insurance backed guarantee for any of this work carried out. Dry rot can be a very serious problem and can eventually spread to wood some distance from where it first started. It can even spread through brickwork and can potentially damage the structure of your home. To spot dry or wet rot look out for: Floors that start sloping towards a wall Mouldy, musty smells Floors springing up and down when stepped on White or yellow mould that looks like cotton wool with dry rot you will also see long white strands which spread through bricks if the fungus is well established The appearance of fruiting bodies or fungi Vertical or horizontal cracks (cubes) in wood Crumbly or brittle wood Holes that appear in skirting boards and furniture nearby How to prevent rot To avoid wet or dry rot happening make sure you keep rooms dry and well ventilated; clean out air bricks annually; ensure your damp proof course is in good working order; make sure no water is draining towards your home and never leave any bare wood exposed, always paint and protect. It s also a good idea to lift lino or carpet every so often to have a quick look at the floor boards for any telling signs. Plumbing Everyone should know how to turn off their water supply. You will usually have two taps called stopcocks which are used to shut off the water within your home. One stopcock will be found where water is piped into your home usually in the kitchen or the downstairs toilet. The second one will be in the street under a metal cover you may well share this with your neighbours. If you can t turn the stopcock don t force it as the tap may need replacing. If the stopcock is jammed you ll need to get advice from a plumber. If you want to work on the cold water system in your home you must drain the entire system first. It s not enough to just turn off the water at the mains as there will still be water in the pipes. You can clear these by flushing the toilet or running the cold water taps. DIY plumbing tips Leaking taps These can easily be repaired at little cost. If the leak is from the tap s spout you will need a new washer. If it leaks from the handle you will need to replace the U ring or take it out and put it back in again. Replacing a tap washer This is a quick job to do but how to do it will depend on the type of tap you have. Information is available from DIY stores or books. Whatever method you use you must turn off the water at the stopcock and run the taps first to get rid of any water still in the pipes. Then turn them back on when the job is complete. Leaking overflow pipes The cold water cistern will usually be fitted with an overflow pipe which goes through an outside wall to just below the eaves of the roof. Water will only have to drip out when you have a problem with the tank. Never ignore the overflow as it s a warning of a bigger problem. Ball valves The ball valves in the toilet cisterns and water tanks float on the surface of the water and close a valve when the level is correct. If your toilet won t flush properly or your overflow pipe is leaking you may have a problem with the ball valve. Common problems include holes in the ball causing it to sink or grit in the valve caused by a worn washer. Noisy radiators Most radiators become noisy at some point as air gets into the system. It s a simple job to let the air out using a radiator key that you put into the air vent found at the top of all radiators. Open the vent only slightly and have a towel or cloth handy to catch any water that spurts out. Remember - when attempting DIY plumbing Only carry out work if you are completely confident that you know what you are doing, if not use a plumber Radiators contain hot water that can burn take care when releasing air out of radiator vents Radiator water may be dirty and can stain walls and flooring Burst pipes Burst pipes can be a real household emergency and the damage caused by them can be very expensive to repair. Burst pipes are caused by: Accidental damage Cold weather

5 If your home s pipes are not insulated they can split if the water inside them freezes. Once this ice melts, water will then pour into your home. If a pipe bursts you should: Be prepared - know where your stopcock is Find out where the leak is coming from If water is coming from the ceiling drain the system by running all taps and flushing the toilet If the leak is in a fitting that screws together try tightening it up If a pipe has split repair that piece of pipe - you can buy burst pipe kit from DIY stores or a plumbers merchant Don t forget that water can damage electrical fittings get an electrician to check the electrics before using them, if a pipe has burst Make sure that your pipes are well insulated to avoid burst pipes. It s a quick and simple job to insulate them - you can buy foam tubing - just choose the size that fits your pipes and follow the fitting instructions. If dealing with burst pipes remember that emergency plumbing repairs can be very expensive. Ask if the plumber makes a call out charge and how much the job is likely to cost. Drains You can prevent drain problems in your home by avoiding disposing of the following down drains or toilets: Disposable nappies Cotton buds Plastic bags Leaves and garden rubbish Oil and fat Food waste Blocked sinks Sinks have a pipe underneath with a trap in the U bend, which stops smells from the drain rising up the pipe into the home. Often things can get caught in this bend and block the sink. If this happens Try using a sink plunger to clear the blockage If that doesn t work, place a bucket under the trap to catch any water and unscrew the access cap. Then use a piece of wire to help locate the blockage which you can then pull out into the bucket. How do I contact you? Dudley home improvement service 17 St James s Road, Dudley, DY1 1JG Office hours Monday - Friday, 9.00am pm If you would like this information in audio format, large print or require assistance with interpretation, please contact us call visit pshdudley@dudley.gov.uk