Many households are currently busy getting their homes and grounds back into shape. With just a few simple steps and an attentive eye, even a non-specialist can quickly maintain their home and at least preserve, if not increase, the property’s value. The German Property Federation IVD West offers five specific recommendations for spring property maintenance.
Identify and remedy damage: the roof and basement bear the greatest load
Much damage can be identified with the naked eye. The often relatively low repair costs should not be avoided; damage should be rectified immediately. Examples include dirt, cracked roof tiles, leaking gutters and other minor signs of wear. Small cracks in masonry, leaking windows and other worn materials can usually be repaired or replaced very quickly and inexpensively. Otherwise, high consequential expenditure and considerable disruption to everyday life may result.
The roof and the basement or foundations of the house must be inspected with particular care, as this is where the most serious damage can occur. Remnants from the previous year collect on the roof and place a burden on the fabric of the house. Gutters should be cleaned, the roof should be visually checked for leaks, and other dirt or foreign objects should be removed from the roof as a preventive measure. Damage can arise in the lower part of the house, for example when snow is swept against the wall during winter. When it melts again, the materials are subjected to enormous stress.
If damage has occurred, non-specialists are well advised to commission a specialist company, which can often carry out the work much faster, more economically and more safely. In the event of substantial damage to the house, it is always advisable to consult a surveyor who can determine its full extent and provide advice on locating the causes.
Ventilate correctly
Mould is a recurring acute problem, caused either by incorrect ventilation or by moisture penetrating the masonry. Correct ventilation is essential for preventing mould, and spring is the ideal time for it. The cold air flowing in warms up, absorbs moisture and carries it back out of the house, providing ideal air circulation. This is particularly advisable for basements and areas of the house that were barely used in winter. On especially hot summer days, rooms should not be ventilated too much, as moisture will otherwise flow into the house and produce precisely the opposite result.
Tip: Brief, intensive ventilation is much more effective than leaving a window tilted open. With a tilted window, the walls cool down and the air is not exchanged properly.
Cleaning and maintaining surfaces
Cleaning stone or metal elements on the façade or outdoors is a task that non-specialists can readily carry out and primarily improves appearance. Fittings and window frames, window sills and balcony fixtures can benefit from maintenance after winter. The same naturally applies to wooden surfaces such as patios, which should be treated with an appropriate polish to weatherproof them. Most surfaces can easily be freshened up with a pressure washer or an ordinary brush. Particularly sensitive surfaces, such as soft woods or tiles that could be undermined by the pressure-washer jet, must nevertheless be treated with the necessary care.
Flush garden pipes thoroughly
After being shut down for winter, water connections and garden pipes must be flushed thoroughly before they are first used to avoid possible microbial contamination. This also provides an opportunity to check whether outdoor pipes have started leaking over winter, for example because of frost or rust. This is easy to identify: if there is a leak anywhere, the water meter continues to turn even though the tap is closed.
Combine measures effectively: use government funding
If some time has passed since the last renovation work, it makes sense to combine it with spring repairs. Possible gutter repairs could be combined with roof insulation work, which may even qualify for government grants and can improve the home’s energy efficiency in operation. Leaking doors or windows should also be repaired as quickly as possible. Security measures such as new locks, door bolts or similar burglary protection may likewise qualify for KfW loans.