You might be forgiven for thinking that typical DIY jobs around the house are small fry, and we can keep on top of them easily. But the problem that most of us have is that we aren’t trained in DIY! No matter how many YouTube videos we watch, there are some things we can’t spot, and it requires a wealth of experience to notice small problems, that, if left untreated, could turn into something a lot worse. On the other hand, so many people just leave any small job, in the hope that it will fix itself some point. But, what are the most unexpected issues that could cause real damage?
Crumbling Masonry
You may be forgiven for not noticing this because you probably don’t look up on your roof much! But crumbling mortar can cause many bricks to come loose, and fall out of the wall. A retaining wall could signpost further problems down the line, and while there are some little issues you can fix yourself by grouting if it’s too late to fix the superficial issues, it’s important to get the roofers out to undertake a thorough inspection, before it gets any worse. Problems like this can be fixed with tuck pointing, but if you do it wrong, it could cause more damage to your home, so, even though you think you know what you’re doing, or get the professionals out!
Dryer Lint
You wouldn’t consider the dryer to be one of the main causes of fires in the home, but in the US, approximately 15,600 fires occur every year due to dryer problems. The main culprit? Lint. Lint is very highly combustible. Notice if your clothes take much longer to dry than normal, as this could be due to obstruction in the dryer vent. You can prevent this by cleaning out the lint every time you use the dryer.
Loose Rails
If you’ve got decking that takes a battering in bad weather, beware of the deck posts and loose railings. If they rock back and forth, they can very easily break off. You might think that it’s easy enough to hammer a few nails in to stop the problem, but you need a special connector that properly secures the railings to the deck framing. In addition to this, it needs to meet specific code requirements. Be sure to check your fencing too!
Cracks In The Driveway
If you got an asphalt driveway, these cracks could fill with water. The water could easily freeze depending on the weather, which would cause these cracks to expand. On top of this, unsightly weeds will grow through the cracks. The best way to prevent these cracks is to fill them with sand. But once you’ve filled these cracks, don’t forget to seal the driveway, because you might be firefighting a problem that will begin all over again.
Beware of these types of problems, especially if you’re on the lookout to sell your home soon. These little issues we don’t tend to notice, but when you leave them untreated, it’s going to cause annoyance, but also reduces the value of your property. Instead, take the time to make little investments to fix these problems before they cause extreme damage.
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