Older properties often fall into disrepair through lack of routine maintenance. The last Friday in November is ‘National Gutters Day’ led by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) as a reminder if you watch the small jobs, the big jobs will take care of themselves (paraphrased by Heritage Revival, but you get the drift…).

If you have a damp wall which is near a rainwater downpipe, or water is not flowing effectively from the gutters to the downpipe do check for debris removal first. 

By taking an opportunity to look more closely at the condition of your ‘rainwater goods’ – ie: your gutters, downpipes and outlets – you may also spot if something is not quite right. The rainwater goods should be in good working order.

You could also consider having a mesh installed to cover parts of your gutters  particularly susceptible to leaf collection.

You can learn more about the impact of damp walls on a previous Heritage Revival blog here.

For a checklist of things to look for review the Traditional Buildings Health Check page here.