Published by Programme B
For most, home improvements are all about increasing your quality of life and the value of your property. There’s no doubt that putting in the work and money to improve property value is worth it, but there are other reasons why you might want to add to your home.
All buildings require maintenance and care to remain safe or functional, but it’s possible to reduce the work required with some tactical improvement choices. In this short guide, we want to look at three of the best home improvements to keep your property, and its residents, as safe and healthy as possible.
Roof Maintenance or Upgrades
To start with, it’s important to consider the state of your roof. Depending on the roofing material used, your roof will have a lifespan of anywhere from 20 years to 50 years or more, but it might experience damage in that time which could cause issues. Due to this, it’s important to conduct regular roofing inspections and maintenance, particularly after periods of extreme weather.
Roof maintenance includes checking for areas where rain or animals may be able to enter the home, alongside clearing gutter blockages and removing any stray debris. If left unchecked, water may ingress into your property, leading to damp and mold or worse – structural damage and instability. This won’t just have an effect on your property’s value, but it’s general safety too. Additionally, rodents, birds or squirrels may access your attic space and cause further issues by chewing through wiring or destroying insulation. This can result in expensive repair work or even start fires.
Your roof is the main protector of your property so always try to keep it in working order or upgrade to a new one if you think the repair work will be more than it’s worth.
Flooring Selection
An often-forgotten aspect of the home that can have an effect on your health is flooring. Whilst carpets are comfortable underfoot and help cushion bumps or falls, they can lead to other health risks. Carpets are notoriously difficult to clean and can house a host of different bacteria or allergens, leading to prolonged illnesses for the residents.
There are a few options for addressing this. You can choose to conduct regular deep carpet cleans conducted independently or through a specialist cleaning service, or you can replace the carpet outright. There are plenty of flooring materials worth considering, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, it’s just about finding the one that is right for your needs and budget.
Ventilation
Ventilation, whilst usually incorporated into some aspect of property design, can be neglected in the name of making sure things look nice. This is a big mistake though, as ventilation can have a major impact on both structural health and the health of the residents.
Without effective airflow, condensation can become a major issue in your home. When the windows steam up whilst cooking or showering, there is a good chance that the same condensation is being left on your walls and timber support structures too. If left unchecked and not allowed to dry, this water can lead to damp and mold growth, or in the case of timber, woodworm infestations, and structural instability.
Opening windows is often more than enough to deal with condensation but if your problem is incessant, there are a variety of other fans and airflow systems you can consider adding to your property. Do some further research and you might find an inexpensive solution that works for you.
Use these home improvements to make your property a great place to live, improving both its lifespan and value. Alternatively, incorporate these additions into any extensions or wider home renovations you might be thinking of.