He’s perhaps best known for being a gastronome, but Loyd Grossman, former host of TV show Through The Keyhole, is also interested in property.
This year, he’s leading the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) annual National Maintenance Week, which runs from November 21-28, and encourages owners of all sorts of buildings – not just ancient ones – to be aware of the importance of regular care.
It’s a message that’s relevant to home owners and to anyone who cares for a property, especially after recent wet or harsh, cold winters.
Loyd said: “Nearly 140 years, ago SPAB’s founder, William Morris, told us to ‘stave off decay by daily care, to prop a perilous wall or mend a leaky roof’ and that’s still sound, practical advice.
“Good maintenance is simply good common sense. It’s economic sense too. Faulty gutters and blocked drains don’t mend themselves – the longer you ignore a problem, the more costly and difficult it becomes to put it right, and that’s true if the building you care for is a mediaeval church in a village or an apartment in a town or city.”
Running for the last 13 years, National Maintenance Week reminds anyone who looks after a building – regardless of its age, type or purpose – of the simple, achievable steps they can take to prepare for the worst that winter can bring.
Turning a blind eye to cracked pipes, faulty drains or broken/missing roof tiles, you might as well throw hard-earned cash to the winter wind.
HOW TO GIVE YOUR HOME A BASIC MAINTENANCE MOT
Check the roof for damaged or slipped tiles.
Even a relatively small gap can let in damaging amounts of water.
It’s much easier and cheaper to have a tile fixed than replace trusses rotted through years of neglect. You can check your roof from the inside – looking for chinks of daylight in the attic. Outside, you might find that using a pair of binoculars helps you get a good clear view of potential problem points.
Water damage is the prime concern when it comes to maintenance.
November is the time to start trouble-shooting because that’s when drains and gutters could become blocked by autumn leaf fall and debris like twigs and old bird nests.
If any of these obstruct the easy flow of water away from a building – damp and other serious problems can follow. It’s relatively easy to check and clear accessible sections of drain and guttering yourself.
Windows are another important area.
If you really want to protect your investment, then looking after your wood windows is vital. It’s a good idea to wash down the paintwork. This not only prolongs the life of the finish, it gives a good opportunity to check for decay.
Vegetation growing on or near a house needs monitoring.
It’s quite easy to check all growth against the building, especially trees, bushes and ivy. This should be removed, cut back or pruned carefully where necessary as these items growing on a wall can also cause dampness and structural damage.”
Look for blocked downpipes (best done during heavy rain to see water coming from any leaky joints – in dry weather look for stained brickwork).
Check ground-level gullies and drains to make sure they are clear of debris like leaves, twigs and even things like balls and toys – and have them cleaned out if necessary.
Every autumn, clear any plants, leaves and silt from gutters, hopperheads, flat roofs and drainage channels. It’s a good idea to do this in spring, too, to deal with anything that might have found its way into the wrong place.
Use a hand mirror to look behind rainwater pipes as splits and cracks in old cast iron and aluminum often occur here and are not easily noticed.
Fit bird/leaf guards to the tops of soil pipes and rainwater outlets to prevent blockages.
Don’t undertake routine maintenance work at high level unless you are accompanied and have suitable equipment. If in doubt, always seek help from a professional.
And here’s a very important extra tip – remember to take care at all times, wear protective gloves when necessary and never work at heights or use ladders if you are alone.
Contact: www.maintainyour building.org.uk