Six Ways to Tell That Your Home Is Sick
With winter fast approaching, you can expect the common cold and other illnesses to disrupt your daily grind. Whilst focusing on staying healthy, why not think about the health of your home as well?
Here are the six major ways your home can get sick:
1. Mouldy Walls and Ceilings
Properties, especially those built on the coast or on permeable clay soil, are susceptible to moulds.
Moulds are signs that there is a moisture leakage somewhere. It could be linked to insufficient air flow, a leaky roof, moisture in the subfloor or an issue with draining and guttering.
If you’re unable to get up into or onto the roof or under the house yourself, hire a builder to do the job for you. Improved ventilation or new drainage corrects most issues.
2. Severe Cracking
Cracks more than five millimetres in width may relate to a home’s foundation’s movement – a costly problem to correct.
Tree roots sucking moisture from the soil causing it to dry up can cause cracks. Weak foundation or moisture issues in the subfloor area are possible causes too.
When you see severe cracking, contact a reputable builder right away. They will drop by, take a look at your problem and fix the problem for you.
3. Faulty Windows and Jamming Doors
Another sign that moisture is slowly destroying your home is when there are doors and windows getting stuck in a closed position or can’t be closed at all. It is moisture that causes the wooden frames to expand and contract.
When this happens, check for leaks and other symptoms of moisture. We also advise getting a professional to address the problem’s cause, as well as the faulty doors and windows themselves.
4. Rotting Wooden Decks and Balustrades
Wooden decks that are rotting can either be a sign of a dreaded moisture issue or termite infestation. Whilst this is a preventable problem, this poses a very serious safety risk to homeowners and tenants when overlooked.
Single wooden board replacements are cost-effective, short-term fixes. On the other hand, if you want a long-term solution, consider replacing the whole deck or balustrade instead.
5. Musty Smells and Water Stains
A musty smell can mean that your home is in trouble. Teamed with stains, mould or wet patches are sure signs that something isn’t right. These should be addressed right away as these can cause homeowners or tenants to get sick.
Causes of this can be poor ventilation or a hidden leak requiring attention. You can fix this by replacing the carpet, getting rid of the moisture source and improving ventilation.
6. Termites
Termites move quite fast, so if you see a trail of mud in the wood (or even concrete parts) of your home, call a pest inspector as soon as you can. Our multi-awarded team can help you out with this one.
Keep your eyes peeled for wood damage in and beneath your home, especially if you’re in a bushy area. Serious damage and an infestation can be prevented if termites are spotted early enough.
Think Your Home Is Sick?
Get your home back to full health before it’s too late. Now is the time to contact a property inspection expert for an assessment.
At Bob Gunn Termite Solutions , we can provide you with a thorough building and pest inspection as well as a termite treatment if necessary. Give us a call on 07 3286 9877 or book online to get discounted price. We look forward to hearing from you!
