Cold, Wet and Windy – keep your house from catching the flu

Our good friends in the weather service are predicting plenty of rain and storms for this winter. No-one has ruled out a plague of woolly mammoths.

The last really wet winter caused all manner of problems in properties across London, and this is the time of year to start preparing for the onslaught.

Even a mild London winter can do plenty of damage, and an ounce of prevention at this time of year is worth a ton of cure.

Water has the knack of getting into walls in various ways. Cracked or missing roof tiles, gaps around door and window frames, breaks in the damp-proof course, porous stone facings and blocked gutters are among the favourites.

The first priority is to make sure the roof is secure and the gutters are clean – we’re happy to recommend people we know for those jobs. Then it’s our turn, and we would look at renewing the sealing around timber frames, and if weather permits fixing or replacing any rotten wood – though that might need to be a temporary fix if it stays too wet, and a simple touch-up of paint might be all that’s possible to last till Spring. 

If there’s already water damage inside, wood and plaster need to dry out before redecorating. The area has to be ventilated as well as warmed up.

Once all that’s done, we remove the damaged plaster and repair and repaint the area.

We’re happy to come and have a look and advise you on any of the above. As far as we know, no woolly mammoth has ever got past our exterior paint.

If you’re considering a decorating project – call and we’ll be happy to answer your questions and visit to give you a detailed quotation and any advice you feel you might need.

All the best,

Geoff Parvin
GD Parvin Ltd.