Protect your block against the weather related damage
The consensus about global warming suggests that over the next 100 years the UK’s weather will become milder, wetter and stormier.
Because of these conditions we need to ensure that our homes remain protected against these changing weather conditions.
Storm
Our weather forecasts seem to increasingly mention the potential of gale force winds. Gale force winds can cause much damage to the exterior of properties, especially tall properties like flats and apartments.
Although there is usually little we can do to prevent most cases of storm damage, often damage is worse where there have been previous problems with workmanship or from a lack of maintenance at the property.
A regular check on the adequacy of your roof coverings is most important and maintenance completed where problems are found is vital to protect you and the other flat owners. Often garage blocks get missed from roof inspections and it is best practice to ensure that they also get included.
Check that chimney stacks remain in stable and in good condition; in storms they are often be exposed to the full force of the weather. To withstand such conditions, maintenance and repairs need to be of the highest standard, and it is important that design elements of such significance are conserved properly. Badly maintained chimneys can be very dangerous, particularly to those on the ground if they become loose.
Fences and gates require regular checks to ensure panels do not become loose – a loose panel in stormy weather can be hazardous to your property, your neighbouring properties and also to passers by.
Flood
Flood controls are being evaluated continually by the government, and the environment agency has set up a useful website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood which contains a vast amount of information and guidance and is free for everyone to access.
There is much information on how to prepare for a flood and what to do once a flood has occurred. For further information on this subject you can also go to our article on protecting your property against flood damage
Winter
Although the weather is apparently getting milder – sub zero temperatures will still occur. Protect your property by leaving your heating on and isolate the domestic water supply if your home is going to be unattended.
Ensure your water tanks and pipes are lagged adequately to prevent them from freezing.
If a pipe does freeze always isolate the pipe by closing the stopcock on the feed from the tank or main, but do not use a hairdryer or hot water bottle to thaw it.
Make sure you know where your stop cock is and that it can be turned off easily.
Surestop provide a useful alternative if you find your stopcock difficult to use or access, for more information go to the Sure Stop page of this web site or go to www.surestop.co.uk.
By installing a Surestop Water Switch you can easily control the water supply in your home and in the event of an emergency you can easily shut down your water supply and limit any water damage. When you leave your home you can switch off your Surestop to protect your home from the damage that bust pipes can cause.
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DISCLAIMER
Any external products and services listed do not necessarily carry the endorsement of retirement-flat-living or imply a recommendation. retirement-flat-living.co.uk does not recommend any of the advertisers and cannot be held responsible for any work undertaken by or purchased from any advertiser on this site.
Whilst retirement-flat-living makes every effort to ensure that the articles included in the web site are accurate at the time of publication it is inevitable that, as time goes by and circumstances change, the articles may contain out of date information. Readers are strongly urged to check the content of these articles before taking any action that could have legal or financial consequences. retirement-flat-living shall not be liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience arising from inaccuracies.