Fair enough, those of us who’ve really got our cleaning game on point probably don’t even call it ‘spring cleaning’ at all. It’s just one of those things we do when we snatch a few spare minutes from time to time throughout the year.
However, not everyone knows that the exterior walls of a property, in addition to the roof, also need some TLC from time to time. Here’s why spring cleaning isn’t just for the interior of your home.
Brick doesn’t last forever
While the lifespan of any home is longer than the lifespan of its owner, brickwork and stonework alike are both susceptible to damage in a number of ways. It’s not just the weather that batters our homes, either – it’s often the aftermath of rain and hail that can cause the biggest problems.
When a property is drying, any mud, dust and debris that’s been breezily flung against your exterior walls can cling on, and quickly cake itself into nooks, crannies and more. Then, rubbing against your bricks and mortar, it’s a lengthy but rather simple process of abrasion that takes place, eventually leaving to first tiny and then bigger cracks – and these lead to hefty repair costs.
Pressure washing is a no-no
You’d think it would be the most efficient way to clean the exterior of your home and, while you’re not wrong, it’s also one of the quickest ways to damage your walls. While they’re built to withstand a good battering from the wind, a relentless blast from a pressure washer could loosen mortar, add to any cracks already present and even permeate the brick and get into the walls inside.
Plus, there’s always the possibility that your windows could take a hit, and any painted doorframes or window frames may quickly lose their protective gloss after just a quick blast from your pressure washer. In fact, just like inside the home, it’s simply a little soap and water that’s best for your walls – and that means getting out the ladders.
Don’t forget to brush
Any moss you see gathered on your pointing needs to be dealt with carefully. More likely to form up on your roof, moss actually thrives in a damp environment, soaking up and thriving on excess moisture. Its roots can spread and grow, getting into tiny cracks in your walls, but it will find getting between tiles above much easier – and this can lead to gradual degradation of your roofing system.
Today’s Homeowner recommends the careful use of a long-handled scrub-brush for removing moss, although some of it may be too far up your roof to reach. In such instances, it’s better to contact a dedicated roof or exterior cleaning company to do the job for you. Alternatively, there are specialist roofers, like Findley roofing contractors in Darlington, who can clean the tiles or slates and take care of any minor repairs at the same time.
If you do find a significant build-up of moss on your roof, or signs of penetrating damp on your exterior walls, then you’ll also need to check inside the property for internal damage. With regular cleaning to the outside of your property, though, you will hopefully never see the damage seep through to the inside of your home.
