"What Problems Could cracked Drains Cause to my Home".

"SPOTTING CRACKED RAIN-WATER SYSTEMS"

GETTING DIRTY

Blocked and cracked rain-water systems are all to common,this is due to out of sight and all that, and if the waters not coming through your door, it must all be working fine and in some cases that will be true.For those that are not sure what this is all about,its your drains at the bottom of your down-pipes that come off your roof and not only water comes down them,e.g. sand off roof tiles,pointing that's starting to break down,pieces of roof tile's that break off,small ball's,debris from birds and their nests and mosses.All this over time in old type drains will collect at the bottom and eventually block your drain altogether,easy to spot, you may think,they'll overflow and water will be everywhere,yes in some cases,in others a real bad winter and a blockage can cause them to crack,also quiet common,probably the worst thing that can happen due to the fact the crack allows the water an escape route ,so all will seem to be working just fine.

The cheapest and easiest way to work this out without waiting for cracks to appear in your brickwork,is to remove the small square grate and put a gloved hand down and have a feel about,if its been unchecked for many years there will be debris in the bottom,clear it out and have a careful feel of the sides of the drain for cracks,usually easily felt and if so they will need replacing not an expensive job to do,but very crucial to replace.If you suspect your drain maybe cracked and the pot seems fine you can lift the manhole cover and trickle a little water from your hose into it and see how much appears,if nothing appears or just a very small amount there could be a crack,then its best to get a camera down to be sure.

Sometimes patios and new drives will totally block access to these,never a very well thought out practise,due to not being able to clean them out,but its not impossible.What you need to do is cut the downpipe 6in from the floor so you can put a adaptor on to re attach the pipe when done.All you need is a thin rod to poke down and have a feel about carefully,if there is a build-up of sand,mosses and general dirt you'll feel it,you could try jetting it yourself,your probably best to get the pro's in ,then have a drain fitted you can access to clean out,debris will always come down the down-pipe.

Cracked drains will cause subsidence,so be aware of this.

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"My Home has Damp what can I do ,how can I fix it".

Leaking Gutters Cause Damp ,Gutter Cleaning Nottingham.

Older homes are far to prone to damp problems ,mainly due to the fact their gutters are at the roofline and for most people who's expertise is in other areas ,
so until the gutters overflow over the front door and everyone coming and going from the house gets wet every time it rains , or maybe the wallpaper in the lounge opposite an external facing wall with gutters above , or maybe they decide they no longer can stand the neighbours any more an have to move and the new buyers surveyor finds higher than average moisture readings on his moisture meter and to cover his own arse calls it rising damp .

Once You Have Rising Damp On a Survey .

There is not a lot you can do maybe find a decent knowledgeable person that is not trying to sell damp cures with 20 year guarantees to inspect your home identify your problem areas ,photograph the results ,repair the cause try to quickly dry out offending walls and get a new survey but this time make sure your man is available to meet the surveyor and walk him around your home , this way you can make sure they will not try to flag your home for DAMP again ,
this method works only too well I've done this with numerous damp homes and it's almost always poor maintenance that is the cause of the damp and very cheaply and easily put right , do not be afraid to challenge a surveyors report ,
they are not the police . Fix my damp please.
 

"How to clean Block- Paving almost for FREE and biocide cleaning for sensitive surfaces.

http:/www.nice-n-white.co.ukBlock - paving always looks absolutely fantastic in the brochures,and when first laid ,the reality is after some time with little or no maintenance the algae will start to cover the bricks, and the weeds will start growing in the joints between the bricks.

Now we've all seen those weed covered block-paving driveways,an absolute nightmare,now this doesn't mean you need a new drive,there are various ways you can fix the problem.

1)First mix a good strong quality weed killer in a watering can and apply to the whole drive,(make sure your animals don't walk on the weed killer until it's dry,

then leave for at least a week to do its magic.
Then after a week or so mix some soda crystals in a watering can ,(use your safety gear ,gloves and safety glasses and be careful ),a good mix about 1 big cup to a litre of water ,and then water your patio or drive avoiding your plants and very important keeping your animals OFF until dry,you'll be amazed.

Soda crystals are very cheap ,and can be used to clean ALMOST anything,except aluminium .(Please wear gloves and glasses and be careful with kid's and animals about)!!! .More tips coming.

Biocides widely used in the food industry in minute doses to kill off micro organisms , clean surfaces , also used by many councils with many sandstone type buildings for not sure of the word , but it means cleaning that doesn't blast off the surface with ridiculous water pressure  , destructive cleaning maybe .
Biocides are great I've tested them on many surfaces  in many conditions and found that they work well , even sprayed on trees  they remove algae , without harming the tree , these products work over time usually unnoticed until one day, Wow that's amazing algae gone and all clean my favourite ,but people fish and ponds and watercourses and lastly sprayed in a mist humans do not like this stuff if breathed into lungs  ,apart from that be careful and it's great . 

Craig        is the best at everything ,just read reviews or ask Pork-Farms .

STILL GOT WOOD .

http:/www.nice-n-white.co.ukMany properties in the U.K. still have wooden windows , doors , garage doors  and the worst to maintain wooden fascias and soffits which if you don't know are usually what your gutters are attached to and sometimes probably your Christmas lights, now properly functioning gutters are  vital along with your drains to your houses defences to the worst of the British weather they are what catch the water that comes off your roof and directs it away from your walls and foundations and direct it to the sewers.

Now if wooden windows,doors and fascia boards are not kept in a water tight state they'll allow water in allowing ROT to set in (WET ROT ),this happens due to the fact the water once in cant get out and rot begins.
I've actually seen windows that were never painted well in the first place and all the paints flaked off and they were ROT FREE only due to the fact they were south facing and with no paint its easy for the water to escape and the wood to dry out.

So to conclude well painted woodwork will be protected from the elements therefore preserve the wood and your gutters wont fall off because the wood has rotted and the screws have nothing to keep them in place,I'm not trying to scare you but maintenance is vital it will be far more expensive in the long run if you don't .


Craig.

"Problems caused by leaking gutters"

Unfortunately for most people who don't fully understand the importance of your houses defences ,against water and weather,out of sight is usually out of mind and this relates to your roof and guttering systems.Peoples roofs and gutters will sometimes leak ,drip water from joints for absolute years,I've even seen water pouring from peoples gutters and this is usually ignored until a much larger and more expensive problem arises.

A water tight roof and leak free gutters will direct water away from your walls and into the sewer system, causing you no problems to your property, and keeping everything inside nice and dry,providing your drains are free of cracks,(more on that later).

Put a bucket under a dripping tap,you'll be shocked how much water collects in 24 hours.

1)Roof:Old pointing(cement),that's starting to break down in your gullies , your gable ends and between your ridge tiles will allow water to penetrate your roof,usually its not spotted and water penetrates for years,causing your roof timbers to start to rot,if ignored will eventually cost you a new roof.

2)Gutters:Leaking gutters will cause a whole new set of problems,a wet patch on your walls or a hole on the ground ,if they've been leaking for years and water running down your walls will wash the cement out of the joints ,and sometimes cause the faces of the bricks to be blown off.
Over time water will permeate through your brickwork and into your house,and this will cause damp,mould spores to grow and mould is hazardous to your health. A young actress and her partner died 2 Christmas's ago,this was said to be caused by mould growing in their Beverly Hills mansion.
If this happens ,you'll have to have the plaster removed in affected areas and re plastered,and room re decorated,(not cheap for a small cheap to sort drip).http:/www.nice-n-white.co.uk

"Why's my conservatory roof leaking."

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 "Leaking conservatory Roof's are very common ."

Now I see a lot of conservatories in my travels,quite a few have signs of rubbish repairs ,silicone sealant all over the place and the home owners tell me the company who initially fitted the conservatory have made the repairs,this is the quick and easy option rather than remove the panels make sure they are well sealed can't move and replace,(should be done in the first place).

Now to me and some others a lot of this seems very obvious,then I'm looking at them most days and to many others it's just not their area. Now for me computers not my area I don't even know how to copy and paste , my mates 8 year old helps me .

There are many different styles of conservatories these days,new conservatories tend to have a  kind of lock off clip to prevent the panels from slipping down, many conservatories are prone to leaking problems especially if you have a pitched roof,(like your homes roof on an angle),in a lot of cases over time the glass or plastic panels will slip down due to weather,wind and gravity causing them to lose there water tight seal allowing water in , this will be the cause of leaks in most cases ,some installation teams might also be in a bit of a rush , rushing a job as everyone knows costs quality in the end .

Then you get some styles of conservatory who's gutters are not fixed on with brackets like your house easy to see(no brackets),if your conservatory gutters get blocked this will allow water levels in the gutters to get too high and in some cases allow water in between two of your roof panels if not properly fitted or seals start to perish (break down).

Conservatory gutters are very easily cleaned out and missing or broken end caps are usually a good sign that your panels have slipped or moved,you can also usually see a panel that's moved it wont be in line with the rest.

"How to clean all your uPVC for only £10."

How to clean your uPVC , gutters and fascia's yourself for only £10.


First and most important point,if your not confident and safe on ladders then get a professional to clear out and test your guttering system.
Then go to B+Q get a 5 meter extendible pole and a 5liter swarfega upvc cleaner,mix about 1 liter to a bucket of hot or cold water attach a soft screw in caravan cleaning brush to your pole dip it in the solution and start to wash your gutters and fascia boards.
Make sure you wear safety specs or preferably goggles, so as not to get any solution in your eyes,it burns.
Use plenty of cold water to rinse off the soap if you own a pressure washer that will be better for rinsing off.(Saves getting soaked)
To reach the higher gables you may need a ladder or steps,make sure you have someone holding them for you,best thing is your 5liter cleaning solution (swarfega) will last with conservatory maybe 5 washes ,5 years and save you hundreds of English pounds.

It'll only cost you a Tenner if you already own a bucket,screw-on brush and a set of decent ladders,oh and a long extendible decorators pole.(Very simple)

We can make it Nice-n-white for you, safely.