Wooden summer houses are amazing spaces to which people retreat during one season or another. The ambiance of these houses also makes them ideal for use throughout the year. If you wish to maintain the aesthetic value of these homes, proper maintenance is very important. It is only in this way that you can get value for your money and get a reasonable resale price when the time comes. Read on as to how you should maintain these spaces:
Inspection
When the house is new, there is not much work when it comes to repairs. For this reason, people neglect inspections and only start conducting them when trouble comes calling. Well, you do not need to postpone inspections until you see cracks on the walls or mildew on the roof. Start now by inspecting the exterior and interior at least once a year. When doing this, be on the lookout for any signs of wear and tear. Look into the foundation and whether it provides the stability you need. Additionally, check for leaks as these will create opportunities for pests and microorganisms that could damage the house. Water could also seep in through such holes and then it would be a case of fighting off rot.
Any problem that you notice at the onset should be dealt with immediately. Please do not put off sealing that leak because when it starts pouring, you will have a lot of work cut out for you. Prevention is better than cure, and that especially holds in this case.
Check the Base
Your house cannot stand unless there is solid ground beneath it. A strong foundation is necessary for life and your home. As such, you should ensure that you lay the house on something that will hold up for the many years to come. Be it concrete or slab, make sure that the material has what it takes to carry the weight.
Why is this important? Well, when the foundation is not level and secure, it paves the way for twisting and warping. The wood will thus get deformed to some extent. And that is when people start noticing that windows will not shut as they should, the doors get jammed, gaps appear along the walls, and cracks begin to develop. Fixing these problems will not bear much fruit if you have not dealt with the underlying cause.
When building a summer house, it is easy to check if the base is level. If you are about to build a home, ensure that the foundation is stable. After you have laid the house on it, making changes will be difficult, but not impossible. It is thus best that you check if the base is intact and whether there is movement.
Also, you need to encourage air circulation under the house. To do this, you should clear the base of any materials that impede this. Failure to do so will create a suitable environment for microorganisms that could damage your home.
What’s Up?
The roof is another critical aspect in your home as it determines how secure the interior is from the elements. You have to ensure that the roofing material fits as it should from the very beginning. Moving on, you will need to check the roof for any damage, such as tears and cracks. This allows you to catch problems early and to handle them as soon as you notice them. If you don’t do this, you will be dealing with leaks that will lead to the introduction of moisture to the interior. When this happens, rotting can happen.
You also need to check the gutters of the house. Ensure that they are not clogged, or else the water in them will flow over the walls. This dampening is a recipe for disaster, and you should avoid it at all costs. Clear any materials that are clogging the pipes. It helps to have a mesh that catches the debris and allows the water to flow without any impediments.
Treating the Wood
When you first bought or built the house, you are likely to have treated the wood. Building a home with untreated wood welcomes an invasion by pests and diseases and is thus not advisable. However, this treatment will not last forever, so you need to keep up with it. It is only in this way that you can preserve the wood in your home. Moreover, treatment improves the appearance of the house such that it adds aesthetic value to your outdoors.
Lack of treatment can lead to rotting, splitting, and warping of the wood as well as discolouration. Eventually, you would spend a lot of money and time on fixing these issues. You can avoid this by using treatments that not only keep moisture at bay, but also prevent the entry of microorganisms.
The treatment plan you have in place will depend on the nature of the house. Some houses come treated with a guarantee of a specific time. However, even these require some treatment annually. Other houses are not pre-treated, meaning you must use treatment on them immediately when you install them.
Preservatives come in the form of spirits. These chemicals work in preventing rot and the growth of microorganisms, as well as repelling insects. Water-based treatments, on the other hand, work for anything from six to twelve months. They protect the house from the elements but will not do much when it comes to repelling insects.
Look into the options available to you and choose one with which you can continue with for a long time.
Painting
Your home will discolour over time, owing to the constant exposure to the elements. With this in mind, you have to paint it after a while to give it more aesthetic value. Applying two coats of paint will give your house an upgrade and offer it some protection from the elements.
When it comes to wooden summer houses, immediate interventions are essential. The longer you wait out a problem, the more significant its effects will be on your home. All the best!