Cost of Living Crisis and Home Maintenance

(April 8, 2022)

From Friday 1st April, energy providers were allowed to increase their variable gas and electricity tariffs. It is said to be the biggest rise in living memory, and the future looks bleak with only more rises to come.

With increases to the cost of food, fuel and Council tax too, it is easy to see why households are stretched financially.

How is this affecting homeowners?

Homeowners are reported to spend an average of £44bn a year on essential repairs and it is popular opinion that maintaining your home regularly is the best way to increase its value.

Homeowners know that it is important to stay on top of home maintenance all year round, yet many also admit to having essential repairs outstanding. This is only set to increase as household budgets are stretched.

Choosing to ignore issues to save money in the present, is a risk. Neglecting things now means there is the possibility maintenance costs could be even higher in the future.

So, what is absolutely essential?

Here is our Top 3 to never ignore

Check for structural damage

Subsidence is not without warning signs. Some of the most common include:

Cracks in walls
Sinking floors
Windows and doors sticking
Noticeable leaning of property
Extension moving away from property

It is imperative that you regularly check your home for these signs all year round.

Check drainage

Gutters control the flow of rainwater on your house, and protect your roof. Clogged gutters from leaves and debris can cause the roof to leak or water to infiltrate your house.

Underground drainage is prone to damage during Winter months from the freezing temperatures. A CCTV survey can confirm the current condition. If defects are identified it is absolutely essential that you repair these.

Leaking drains are a common cause for subsidence. If left they could cause wash out of the soils which can lead to subsidence. Houses built on granular soils are particularly at risk from this issue.

Check vegetation and trees

If your property is built on shrinkable clay soils it is vulnerable to movement and structural damage. This is because trees and vegetation can abstract moisture from the soil causing clay shrinkage subsidence. This will become noticeable during the dry summer months as the clay shrinks, causing a downward movement in the foundations.

You may notice that cracks open in the Summer and close in the Winter.

As a significant proportion of subsidence claims relate to the influence of trees and other vegetation groups, any noticeable damage should not be ignored.

I have spotted the signs of subsidence. What should I do next?

Papering or plastering over the cracks may deal with the issue now, but if the cause is structural movement, the cracks will just reappear. If left unaddressed you are at high risk of causing more structural damage to your property.

Buying a subsidence solution is not something you want to do, but it is something you need to do to maintain your home.

My finances are stretched at the moment, I’m worried I cannot afford the cost.

We are able to offer you finance, to help you spread the cost of this essential maintenance work.

Geobear solutions are comparably priced with traditional solutions such as underpinning or piling too. However, geopolymer injection solutions can be completed much quicker and with much less disruption than traditional alternative methods such as underpinning or piling.

With this quick turnaround, Geobear solutions can then be cheaper overall. We may be able to completely eliminate costs associated with alternative accommodation and storage, as work can be completed in as little as one day!