With summer just around the corner, people all over the UK will be making the most of the few sunny days that we get in our unpredictable climate. For some this will mean making the most of their garden and spending time outside with loved ones, whilst others will be giving the exterior of their home a face lift whilst the weather is in favour.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best exterior refurbishment jobs to tackle this summer.
Whilst there is often a lot of emphasis on painting and decorating in the summer, taking advantage of the longer days and better light, it makes sense to get some jobs done outside. For safety reasons, it makes sense to get any roof or chimney repairs done on a dry, summer’s day. If you need to replace roof felt, put roof slates back in place, re-point ridges or repair or remove your chimney, exterior refurbishment professionals will want to carry out this work on a dry, warm day.
Replacing or repairing fascias or soffits are jobs that are also best tackled on a bright and dry day. They can be replaced in either wood or uPVC, depending on your budget and the ease of maintenance. uPVC fascias and soffits do not rot and are very easy to maintain, whereas high quality wood will require more care over time.
The summer is the best time to think about upgrading your windows, ready for the colder months to follow. Insulation is not usually much of a worry at a time of the year where windows will usually be opened to let air into the home, so a summer’s day provides the ideal opportunity for new, energy saving, well insulated windows to be installed. Double glazing will help to keep the heat in over the winter, and help to reduce noise from outside all year round.
Rather than simply painting over any cracks in rendered surfaces, it’s always advisable to repair it properly. A good way to work out whether rendered walls are sound before painting is to tap them as you move along; any hollow sounds suggest that the render is unstuck from the brickwork or masonry and will need to be replaced.
If your rendering is in need of repair, or brickwork needs to be repointed, it is always best to call exterior refurbishment experts to ensure that you get the best looking, longest lasting finished results. Brickwork can crumble when exposed to the harsh weather of the British winter, so the need for pointing repairs is a fairly common occurrence.
As with many exterior jobs, fencing is best dealt with on a dry day. Whether your fencing needs to be coated in creosote or painted to protect it over the coming year but you don’t have the time, or if you have decided to have new fences installed, the summer is the best time to call in the experts.
