Water, water, everywhere

Water is one of the essentials for all life, but as with many things, too much of it or having it in the wrong place can be problematic. Water in the home is vital when it is coming out of the kitchen taps or bathroom taps but can be a problem in other forms, for example: when water is found in the house in the form of dampness and condensation.

Dampness in the kitchen can lead to flours and other cupboard staples going off. Dampness in the bedroom can mean that your bed linens begin to smell unpleasant and that your clothes and shoes start to mould. Condensation in the bathroom that is allowed to build over time leads to peeling wallpaper, mouldy grouting and more unpleasant smells.All of these things are not only unsightly and off-putting but also pose possible risks to health.

There are various steps that you can take to manage dampness in your home. For the bathroom, allow air to circulate freely after showering by opening windows and avoid the use of wallpaper, replacing it with plastic cladding. Using plastic cladding in your bathroom will prevent mould from building up, and is rot-proof and water-proof, making it easy to keep clean.
Using exterior plastic cladding will help protect the other areas of your home too.

Taking care of your guttering can prevent damage to your roof and walls. Clogged guttering can become heavy and potentially tear away from its fittings, making an easy job (clearing leaves from guttering, for example) a much harder one (restructuring part of your roof or walls).Guttering is very effective in drawing water away from the roof, but as with many other areas of the home, it does require maintenance and upkeep in order for it to work efficiently.Ensure that you stay on top of this maintenance, and you will find that water remains a friend and not an enemy.