Seven things to fix around the home NOW before they cost thousands to put right later
If there’s a niggling little DIY job that you keep putting off, now could be a good time to tackle it.
It’s all-too-easy to leave problems around your home neglected for months on end.
But if you ignore things for too long, you risk costs escalating.
With the worst of the winter hopefully behind us, why not bite the bullet and reach for the toolbox.
Or, if it’s a more complicated job, don’t be afraid of picking up the phone and calling in a tradesperson.
Jonjo Bryant from Bryant Building Services, a member of Checkatrade for six years, told The Sun: “It is crazy how much building materials cost now.
“So, don’t wait for a small problem to become expensive. Act as soon as you spot an issue within your home.”
By fixing things sooner rather than later, you could avoid having to foot a much bigger bill further down the line because things have got much worse.
It could save you thousands of pounds in the long term.
Broken roof tiles
If you spot a cracked tile on your roof, you need to act.
While a minor roof repair shouldn’t be too expensive, costs could soar for a more substantial repair, or full tile replacement.
Jonjo said: “If you have broken tiles, these will let water in, and you could end up with leaks internally.
“Get in there early, and it shouldn’t cost too much.”
According to Checkatrade, you should expect to pay around £170 to replace up to five roof tiles for a relatively basic job which doesn’t require a ladder.
Jonjo added: “This compares to a bill of a possible £5,000-£8,000 if there is extensive roof damage.”
“And if the entire roof needs to be replaced, this could set you back a huge £10,000.”
Weathered mortar joints
The space between the bricks or blocks which make up any property are filled with mortar mixture.
But if these are weathered and falling out, this should set the alarm bells ringing. Your brickwork is your main defence against the elements.
Jonjo said: “If the mortar joints start to let water in, this can cause major problems.
“You could, over time, end up with a damp issue. You need to nip this in the bud.”
The process of removing and replacing mortar is known as repointing.
According to Checkatrade, it can cost around £55 per square meter to repoint a brick wall.
Leave it until the whole property is in need, and could easily face a bill of over £1,000.
“Repointing is a great way to fix any damage and wear and tear on your property,” said Jonjo.
“If you don’t deal with it, a major damp problem could be very costly to put right.”
Cracked rendering
The same applies to render, the coat of cement on the external walls of a property.
Jonjo said: “If you spot any broken render, you need to act as soon as possible to eliminate further issues.”
If there is a small amount of cracking, you may be able to repair it yourself using a pre-mixed render repair tub.
You can pick up a 5kg tub from a hardware store for around £10.
If you want to hire a professional to do the job, it could cost between £105-£210 for a small patch, according to Checkatrade.
Damaged guttering
If the joining clips, known as ‘unions’ within your guttering are broken, you should get them changed as soon as possible, according to Jono.
“If not, you can end up with your gutters and downpipes leaking,” he said.
“This can lead to damp problems in your home which can be very expensive to sort.”
At the same time, if your gutters have got clogged up with leaves and other debris over the winter months, you can’t afford to ignore this.
Provided your gutters are accessible, you should be able to clean them out yourself.
If not, it’s worth having them cleaned professionally. Expect to pay around £18-£25 an hour for this.
By contrast, if you end up needing to get your gutters and downpipes replaced, costs could soon escalate into hundreds of pounds.
Boiler not working properly
Discovering you’ve got a problem with your boiler can be a complete nightmare, and could mean you find yourself without heating or hot water.
Equally, one of the most serious issues caused by a badly-maintained gas boiler is carbon monoxide poisoning.
This can cause headaches, weakness, vomiting, and in the most extreme cases, death.
Warning signs which may mean your boiler needs some attention include hearing strange noises, such as banging, whistling or humming, or seeing dark soot marks around the unit.
Jonjo said: “Every homeowner should get their boiler checked annually to make sure it is working efficiently and that it abides by the regulations.”
Always use a gas safe registered engineer.
“With a regular service, you should hopefully eliminate the cost of boiler wear and tear,” said the building supremo.
“You may even prevent it from breaking down.”
Expect to pay around £100 for a boiler service.
Jonjo added: “This compares to having to call in an engineer to install a new boiler which could cost anything from £2,500.
“Catching any problems in their early stages could potentially save you a fortune.”
Peeling sealant in the bathroom
It’s easy to turn a blind eye to sealant which is coming away around your bath and units.
“But if this is left, it can result in water getting behind the tiling which will cause walls to rot,” said Jonjo.
“This could lead to damp.”
At Wickes, you can get a 310ml container of sealant for less than a tenner.
Or, if you need to call in the professionals, it could cost around £200 to get your sealant checked by a handyman.
“By contrast, if things get serious and you end up needing a full bathroom refurbishment, you could end up forking out anything from £5,000,” warns Jonjo.
Rotten fence panel
After a harsh winter, you may have a fence panel or post which is breaking down.
If so, you should take steps to get the affected parts replaced as soon as possible
Jonjo said: “This will hopefully avoid the whole fence getting blown down in strong winds.”
According to Checkatrade, the average cost of a fence panel is £45, whereas a major fence installation could set you back between £1,450 and £1,850.
“When getting a new fence fitted, I would always suggest using concrete posts with concrete gravel boards, as this is a much stronger, and longer-lasting, option,” said the building whizz.
“I would also recommend treating fence panels with creosote once a year, as this keeps them in good condition and stops them from rotting.”
You can pick up a 4-litre tub of creosote from around £12 on Amazon.
Jonjo added: “Once again, this is a whole lot cheaper than potentially having to pay for a new fence.”