Trade Body’s Tips to Prepare Homes For Winter

Oct. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- As the weather starts to turn and darker nights creep in, the Property Care Association (PCA) – the trade body for building preservation in the UK – has drawn up a list of simple steps householders can take to stop winter taking its toll on their homes.

The PCA, which works within the areas of damp control, timber infestation, flood recovery, basement waterproofing, structural repair and condensation, has drawn up five areas where property owners can take action now to stop future problems in their tracks.

1.   Drains - Ensure drains remain clear of leaves and other debris, to enable water to escape from a building quickly, particularly during heavy downpours.

2.   Roofs - Check lead-work and roof tiling is in good condition and able to withstand the wind as well as the rain. If anything is loose or worn, water will find its way in.

3.   Gutters - Ensure these are free from moss, leaves and other debris - and all properly connected up - to give water a fast exit from the building.

4.   Pointing - Monitor a property’s pointing and rendering regularly, as this is another area that can cause problems.

5.   Chimneys - Poor flashing on chimney breasts can let water stream into a property - this is a common problem area.


Steve Hodgson, general manager of the PCA, who has appeared as a building preservation expert on the last two series of Sarah Beeny’s Channel 4 Show, Help My House Is Falling Down, said: “This checklist offers some simple steps homeowners can take to protect their property against the nation’s weather.

“By dealing with problems at an early stage, homeowners could ward off the need for more extensive repairs in the future.

“The key is to inspect regularly and prevent water entering a building.

“If in doubt, contact a member of the PCA to get the problem accurately diagnosed.”

The PCA is a member of TrustMark the scheme supported by the Government, to help property owners find reliable and trustworthy tradespeople to make home improvements.

The PCA can be found at http://www.property-care.org or by calling 0844 375 4301.

A video is also available to view online at http://www.property-care.org/video-folder/pca-member-video which explains to consumers about the work of PCA members.


ENDS

Noted for its training and technical expertise, The Property Care Association (PCA) represents the UK’s structural waterproofing, wood preservation, damp-proofing, flood remediation and structural repair sectors.

It incorporates the British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Association (BWPDA), which has been in formation for more than 75 years.

The PCA is a member of TrustMark the scheme supported by the Government, to help property owners find reliable and trustworthy tradespeople to make home improvements.

Its contractor members are all carefully vetted before being awarded membership - and are then subject to rigorous auditing procedures once admitted to the Association.

As well as delivering a trusted repair procedure, PCA members are able to carry out specialist surveys as part of the house-buying procedure  to identify potential problems – as well as a range of other services  designed to preserve and protect homes and buildings across the UK.

To find a PCA member log on to http://www.property-care.org and select the ‘Find A Member’ service.

Press release issued by Jane Shepherd of Shepherd PR Limited, 01538 308685, mobile 07985 129315.