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Experts recommend a spring checkAfter snow and frost – That's why homeowners have to check their facade
The base area is particularly vulnerable: snow and ice affect the lower facade area.
picture alliance/dpa / Hauke-Christian Dittrich
Mold, chipped plaster, loose roof tiles: no one wants anything on their house, but it's better to discover them early. This is how you can recognize typical damage after winter.
Take a careful look at the facade: This is what the Association of Private Builders (VPB) recommends to homeowners in the spring. Because after the winter there is often wear and tear caused by snow and frost.
“You should check clinker brick facades for cracks in stones and joints, and plaster facades should also be checked for chipped areas,” advises Karl-Heinz Schneider from VPB.
You should look particularly closely at the base area. Because it is particularly stressed by snow and ice in winter. If you find fine, superficial cracks, you can often repair them yourself. If there are deeper cracks on the facade, it makes sense to hire professionals to prevent more serious damage.
It also makes sense to take a look at the balcony during the spring check: “Above all, you should check whether the connection to the wall is still intact,” says Schneider. “The plasticizers can evaporate from older plastic seals over time.” This causes the sealing to become brittle and no longer adhere to the wall. If moisture then gets inside, it can cause structural damage, according to VPB.
And then you should take another look at the roof – first from the outside: shifted tiles and broken roof tiles are often noticeable when you examine your roof from below. A high-resolution image can provide certainty about the condition.
According to VPB, ideally you take such photos of the roof from the neighboring house. But you can also record them with the help of a drone. Practical: “If you compare current photos with those from previous years, you can see changes in the roof covering, which is also helpful for long-term renovation planning,” says Andrea Blömer from VPB.
You should also look in the attic: Are the insulation material and the underlayment still intact everywhere, are there any pests to be seen? Are there damp spots or even mold?
If there are areas on the roof that are no longer tight, it is important to take quick action to prevent moisture from penetrating the building. But this should be left to professionals. The same applies to checking steeply sloping roof surfaces and flat roofs.
Sources used: awi/dpa
