Floor Care

New carpets have a higher level of fibre which will be noticeable during the first few times you vacuum. Heavy objects resting on the carpet should be moved periodically to avoid matting and permanent marking. Laminate, vinyl and wood finish floors can be prone to scratching and impact damage. Placing protective materials under metal legs on furniture may prevent damage. Also, metal heels and steel toecaps may also cause damage.

Ironmongery & Brassware

These should be cleaned following manufacturer’s recommendations Check before you paint hinges on doors and windows as this can prevent them from working efficiently.

Bathroom Care

You should use a good quality bathroom cleaner for bathroom suites & ceramic tiles and always rinse to remove traces of the cleaner. When using the bathroom always have the ex-tractor fan on and keep a trickle vent open. Any cracks that appear in the grout due to shrinkage should be rectified quickly to prevent water seeping into walls.

Heating & Hot Water

To get the best out of your central heating system, read the manufacturer’s operating instruction carefully. Annual servicing of the boiler, cylinder and mechanical ventilator/heat recovery system by a registered engineer is extremely important to ensure it works efficiently and safely. To avoid frozen pipes in the winter, try to leave on some background heating at all times. If you have an outside tap make sure the stopcock is shut off and drain off all water to avoid pipes freezing and bursting.

Gutters & Rainwater Pipes

These should be cleaned our regularly especially if there are trees nearby. Gutters are designed for average rainfall so don’t be alarmed if they overflow in periods of heavy rainfall. Take care not to lean anything against the gutters/rain pipes as this could cause damage. Gutters do expand and contract with the changes in the weather and ‘clicks’ can be heard sometimes when this is happening, which is perfectly normal. If your guttering starts to leak at any joints, try pushing them together before calling in a professional.

Roof

Any works carried out on the roof of your home should be done with the use of a roof ladder to protect tiles and slates. This work should be carried out by a skilled person using full safety equipment.

Roof Space

This is not a storage area and should not be boarded or loaded with belongings. Doing so could cause damage to the structure and effect ventilation which can lead to condensation. Lofts can sometimes get damp during the drying out process which could cause damage to items being stored.

Drains

Blocked drains are becoming an increasing problem but can be easily avoided by taking a few preventative measures:

• Avoid putting anything into the drainage system via the sink or toilet that could cause a blockage (e.g. wipes, oil, fat)

Pure Homes is not responsible for unblocking drains unless there has bee a construction fault.

Brickwork & Render

Variations in the colour of bricks can sometimes occur on the outside of your home. Some bricks also contain salts which in time may produce white crystal deposits. This is due to alternating wet and dry weather condition and is not a defect in the brick.

Doors

Timber doors have a tendency to move according to changes in their moisture content. Minor warping that does not affect the operation of the door is not considered a defect. All internal door have a specified clearance be-tween the bottom of the door and the floor, which is enough for vast majority of carpets and under lays. If you do choose a thicker combination, do check the clearances, or the doors will need to be removed and planed.

Garages

Garages are generally constructed using a single skin of brickwork, compared with a full cavity wall as on the home itself. For this reason, garages should not be used to store anything that could be affected by damp. Garage door are not sealed to be watertight, and depending on wind conditions driving rain may penetrate.

Garden

In your new home comes a turfed garden. The whole area needs watering daily for around eight weeks after its been laid, until it is fully settled and rooted. Avoid walking on the turf for at least three weeks. New trees and shrubs also require daily watering, especially during the summer. Sapling trees should not be planted close to you home, or your neighbours home, as in time their roots can damage the foundations.

Fencing

Fencing Fences will benefit from preservative treatment every other year. In the event of storm damage to fencing you should refer to your home insurer.