Block Maintenance During Winter
Sinead Campbell, of London Flats Insurance, discusses the best way to prepare your block for winter.
Preparing your block for the cold season can seem like an endless task. However, whilst there may be a lot to do, many maintenance tasks are relatively simple and make a huge difference.
Using a Planned Maintenance Programme
When preparing your block for winter, it is always highly advisable that you keep your block up to date with all necessary maintenance steps. Using a Planned Maintenance Programme (PMP) is a great way to ensure your block is as ready for winter as it can be and lessens the likelihood of any nasty surprises halfway through the cold season.
Commission a Property Maintenance Programme
You should try to secure some quotations from experienced surveyors as part of your planned maintenance programme. They will carry out a survey on your property and, alongside information gathered from the relevant reports on your block, will be able to organise a comprehensive maintenance programme for you to follow. This will include any immediate works which need to take place, as well as routine maintenance such as risk assessments. That way, you can ensure your block is up to scratch before winter hits.
What steps can I take to avoid a leak indoors?
The most common issue that blocks face during winter is water ingress. This can be highly inconvenient, time-consuming and very costly to fix. However, there are some preventative measures you can take to ensure your block doesn’t suffer:
- Remove visible debris from any drainage systems around the property, i.e. leaves or twigs. Damp caused by blocked gutters can cause problems inside your block as well as attract algae and mould to brickwork and rendering. A thorough clear-out once every two or three years is the best policy. If you have lots of trees around or a mossy roof, then an annual clear out may be required.
- Ensure any exposed pipes have adequate insulation to avoid freezing.
- Repair any flaws in the waterproofing around your block, i.e. cracks or damaged seams.
How should I prepare external grounds?
The winter always promises one thing: bad weather.
It’s important that you take precautionary measures around your block to ensure it is as safe as possible for residents, visitors and employees walking around the grounds. Ice, rain and snow can quickly become a hazard for slips, trips and falls, so it’s important you do what you can to mitigate the risk.
You should ensure all handrails and supports around the grounds are secure, especially in areas prone to ice. You should also stock up on grit salt or, as an alternative, restrict access to any slippery areas until the ice has melted.
You should also think about any external features such as furniture, gating or trees:
- Trees: Take a walk around your block and note any trees that look unstable- they can blow over and damage cars, walls, gates or even pedestrians. Also, remove any branches which are not secure.
- Fences: Give them a quick shake to make sure they are secure, as these are often blown down in high winds.
- Garden furniture, pots and ornaments: These can lead to smashed windows and other damages when picked up in a strong wind. Where possible, store them away until the weather calms down.
Have a good insurance policy in place
Despite taking precautionary measures to prevent any damage to your property, it’s also sensible to have cover in place in case something does go wrong.
You should think about the following:
- Public and Employers’ Liability cover: In the worst-case scenario of a resident, visitor or employee falling and injuring themselves on the ice, it’s important that you have cover in place to deal with a potential claim.
- All-Risks Buildings Insurance: In the case of flooding, storm or accidental damage to your block, you should ensure that you have a comprehensive Buildings Insurance policy in place which covers all the internal and external communal areas of your block.
Prepare for next summer
In the spirit of preparing for seasons, it’s also a good idea to think about how you’re going to prepare your block for summer. It may seem a long way off right now, but preparation is the key to smooth block maintenance, so it always helps to be one step ahead of the curve.
Think about any major works you may have lined up or any maintenance projects which need to be completed. Now is the time to plan ahead and get some quotes, as well as preparing any necessary specifications and beginning the Section 20 process.
Likewise, summer is the perfect time to carry out any external painting, decorating or outside repairs to gates, windows or the roof area. Do what you can to plan everything and get in touch with contractors now so that when warmer weather comes you can start as soon as possible.
Neighbours
Lastly, it’s always admirable to be a good neighbour and let others know if you see anything that may need attention. Often flat owners can view walls, roofs etc. from different viewpoints that could help avoid a disaster.