Most winter damage to a home is caused by small maintenance issues left unattended, a blocked gutter, a loose roof tile, a gap around an old window frame, rather than one big failure. Going into the colder months with your roof, gutters, windows and heating checked over will save you far more in avoided repairs than the time it takes to do the checks. This is especially true of older Victorian and Edwardian properties across North London, which were not built with modern insulation standards and rely heavily on being kept in good repair.
Start with the roof and gutters
Get your roof checked for slipped, cracked or missing tiles before the weather turns, since a small gap that lets in a trickle of water in October can become a serious leak once heavy rain or frost arrives. Clear gutters and downpipes of leaves and debris, a blocked gutter overflows against the wall and can lead to damp penetrating brickwork, especially on older solid-wall properties without a cavity. Check that flashing around chimneys and roof junctions is intact, as this is a common source of hidden leaks.
Deal with draughts and heat loss
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective winter improvements. Check seals around doors and windows, particularly original timber sash windows common in Victorian and Edwardian terraces, which can be draught-proofed without losing their character. Loft insulation is worth checking too, many older houses have insulation that has settled, gone thin, or was installed to a lower standard than current guidance recommends, and topping it up is inexpensive relative to the heat it saves.
- Check the roof for slipped or damaged tiles before the first heavy rain
- Clear gutters and downpipes of leaves and debris
- Check window and door seals for draughts, particularly on original sash windows
- Top up loft insulation if it has settled or is below current recommended depth
- Bleed radiators and check your boiler is serviced before the heating season starts
- Insulate exposed pipework in lofts and outbuildings to prevent freezing
- Check external brickwork and render for cracks that could let in water
Protect against frozen and burst pipes
Pipes in unheated spaces such as lofts, garages and under suspended timber floors are the ones most at risk of freezing. Lagging exposed pipework and knowing where your stopcock is located are both worth sorting before winter arrives rather than during an emergency. If a property is going to be left empty for any period over winter, leaving the heating on a low constant setting is generally cheaper than the cost of repairing a burst pipe and the resulting water damage.
When to call in a professional
Some checks are safe to do yourself, but roof inspections, chimney checks and boiler servicing should be left to qualified trades, both for safety and because problems caught early by an experienced eye are far cheaper to fix than ones that are missed. If you notice damp patches appearing on ceilings or walls, a musty smell in a loft, or a noticeable increase in heating bills without any change in usage, these are all signs worth investigating before winter sets in properly.
If your North London home needs roof repairs, guttering work or insulation improvements before winter, get in touch with Hozea Construction for a free fixed-price quote. Call 07969 378509 to arrange an inspection.
Common questions
- What is the single most important thing to check before winter?
- The roof and gutters, since water ingress from a damaged roof or a blocked gutter causes the most serious and expensive damage over winter. A short inspection in autumn is far cheaper than fixing a ceiling that has been damaged by a slow leak.
- Is it worth draught-proofing old sash windows rather than replacing them?
- In most cases yes, particularly in conservation areas where replacing original windows may not be permitted. Professional draught-proofing significantly reduces heat loss and cold draughts while keeping the character and appearance of the original window.
- Should I leave heating on if my house is empty over winter?
- Yes, a low constant heat setting, typically enough to keep the property a few degrees above freezing, is far cheaper than repairing a burst pipe caused by freezing water expanding inside unheated pipework.