Your Car Gets Serviced. Does Your House?
Most of us wouldn’t dream of driving a car for 10 years without servicing it.
We check the tyres, change the oil, replace worn brakes and fix strange noises before they become bigger problems.
But when it comes to our homes, we often treat them very differently.
And that is slightly strange when you think about it.
A vehicle usually decreases in value over time.
Your home, on the other hand, is often one of the most valuable assets you will ever own and, over the years, may increase significantly in value.
Yet many people spend more time and money maintaining the asset that is depreciating than the one that is appreciating.
Houses Need Maintenance Too
A house may look solid and permanent, but it is constantly exposed to weather, movement, moisture, heat, cold and everyday use.
Paint coatings break down.
Sealants shrink and crack.
Gutters block.
Roofing and flashings age.
Decks and handrails move.
Shower seals fail.
Timber can begin to soften long before major rot becomes obvious.
The problem is that many of these issues start small.
A cracked piece of sealant may not seem urgent.
A little bit of peeling paint might be something you plan to deal with next summer.
A gutter overflowing during heavy rain may only happen occasionally.
A small water stain inside may disappear once it dries.
But these can all be early warning signs.
Small Problems Can Become Expensive Ones
A lot of the repair work we carry out at Aries Builders starts with something that was probably relatively minor in the beginning.
A small leak can eventually cause:
- Rotten framing
- Damaged wall linings
- Mould or dampness
- Failed flooring
- Damaged insulation
- Deteriorated cladding
- More extensive waterproofing repairs
Once water gets into places where it should not be, the visible damage is not always the full extent of the problem.
That does not mean every crack or stain is a disaster.
It simply means it is worth finding out what is causing it.
The House Usually Gives You Warning
Buildings normally give you warning before a problem becomes serious.
The trick is noticing those warning signs early.
Once or twice a year, take a slow walk around your property and have a proper look.
Things worth checking include:
- Peeling, cracked or bubbling paint
- Soft, swollen or discoloured timber
- Cracked or missing sealant around windows and doors
- Blocked or overflowing gutters
- Rusting roofing or flashings
- Cracks around cladding junctions
- Water staining on ceilings or walls
- Musty smells or recurring damp areas
- Loose decks, stairs or handrails
- Failed silicone around showers, baths and basins
- Areas where water is ponding instead of draining away
- Anything that simply looks different from the last time you checked
You do not necessarily need a builder every time you notice something.
Sometimes the solution may be as simple as clearing a gutter, repairing some sealant or repainting a small area before exposed timber deteriorates.
The important part is not ignoring it.
Think of Your House Like an Asset That Needs Servicing
We are used to preventative maintenance when it comes to vehicles.
You do not wait for the engine to seize before changing the oil.
The same thinking can be applied to a house.
Preventative maintenance may not always feel urgent, but it can protect the value of the property and reduce the chance of larger repair bills later.
At Aries Builders we spend a lot of time investigating water ingress, rot, failed building components and general property damage around Auckland.
And while companies like ours make money repairing these problems, we would much rather see our clients catch them early.
Your home may be one of the biggest investments you ever make.
It makes sense to service it too.
If you’ve noticed something around your property that doesn’t look quite right, we can come out, take a look and help you work out what needs attention before it becomes a bigger problem.
Book a site visit with Aries Builders.