Six signs your home is ageing – what to check and how to fix it

Knowing when to step in to repair small problems to prevent them from turning into bigger and more expensive issues is key in keeping your home well maintained and looking its best while being gentle on your budget. Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty gives us six common house aging signs to look out for and catch early to keep your home and its value at its prime. 

• Water Leaks: Leaks often happen quietly and quickly and can cause major drama, leaving you with hefty water and plumbing bills if not caught early on. Look for evidence of leaks or water stains around the interior of your home and especially beneath bathroom areas as this could be an indication of a plumbing system that’s nearing the end of its lifespan. When checking visible piping, look for any rusted or corroded materials and if you find any, it’s best to call in a plumber sooner rather than later as you are very likely to spring a major leak.

• Sagging gutters: Neglecting to regularly clean your gutters out, especially in autumn, could be the reason why they are sagging…or it can be an indication of more serious wear and tear over the years. If you’re lucky, you might just need to replace one section of the gutter and move on. It’s important to have your roof checked too though, as sagging gutters might be a sign of a rotting roof with mould growth from excessive water, especially if it’s an older house. 

• Damaged roof shingles: Your home’s exterior is its first line of defense against the elements and the roof generally takes the worst beating but, as it’s mostly out of sight and not easy to inspect, it’s easy to miss the first signs of damage. If the edges of your shingles are curling, your roof needs attention and if granules are missing and worn and starting to appear “bald”, it’s a sign that the shingle is thinning down and will therefore no longer hold up very well against the elements. Likewise cracked shingles should be replaced as soon as spotted.

  
  

• Breaking brick and mortar: While it’s one of the strongest materials in your home, bricks do sometimes crack. Known as spalling, this usually happens in colder weather when brick is penetrated by moisture which can freeze and it can’t be repaired; it needs to be replaced. Mortar, too, will eventually begin to break down and as soon as you see this start to happen, you need to scrape out the old mortar and replace it, sealing any gaps between the bricks.

• Banging pipes: If you notice a cacophony of noises behind your walls every time you wash the dishes or take a shower, your pipes need to be inspected and may need reinforcement or even replacement.

• Flickering lights: This could be a sign of loose service conductors in your main electrical panel, an outdated breaker box with worn connectors or a switch failure which are not uncommon problems in older homes. Don’t ignore this seemingly minor issue, as loose or outdated wiring is one of the leading causes of house fires.