Looking after your property is essential to keep it safe, functional and attractive. Staying on top of maintenance can feel like a big task but it is far better to nip potential problems in the bud than allow them to develop.
External joinery is often an integral part of a building’s structure and aesthetic appeal, but how serious are issues that affect it? Let us find out more about it.
What is external joinery?
The term ‘external joinery’ means the exterior wooden components of a building e.g.:
- Doors/doorframes
- Window frames
- Fascias
- Soffits
- Other wooden elements such as cladding, screens, shutters, porches
Is external joinery important?
When joinery is correctly installed and maintained, it plays many roles:
- Contributes to the building’s stability
- Helps protect the building from rain, wind and extreme temperatures
- Boosts energy efficiency by preventing heat loss
- Improves the aesthetic appeal of the property
External joinery is an essential part of many properties, not only in terms of the structures themselves and how they function but also from an aesthetic perspective. If the external joinery is neglected, the impact can range from the property looking a little run-down to the owner facing major repair considerations/costs.
What are common external joinery issues?
Sometimes external joinery issues are not a cause for concern but there are instances where immediate action may be required.
Rotting wood
This is probably the issue you may worry most about. If the moisture content for external joinery gets too high and the wood cannot dry out, it may rot and deteriorate. This dampness can be allowed to penetrate the wood when paintwork is compromised e.g. by wind, rain and extreme temperatures; pollution degrading the paint; physical damage or the paint peels over time.
Cracking and splitting
With variations in moisture and temperature, wood may crack and split. However, the ‘defects’ may disappear again over time.
Warping and bowing
This may be a natural process as the wood adjusts to the moisture levels at your property or it could signal structural problems, such as overloading.
Insect infestation
If wood-boring insects infest your timber it can become structurally weakened and even fall apart.
Paint deterioration
Over time, the finish of your timber will deteriorate. The paintwork will fade and/or flake away and must be redecorated to improve the aesthetic and maintain effective protection to the wood.
How serious are external joinery issues?
It can be very hard to assess how serious a problem is, especially if you are concerned about joinery at height. A small, localised area of wood that is cracked may not cause any issues, but damp or infestations may spread, compromising structural integrity.
If you notice flaking paint, doors/windows not closing properly, warping, cracks, or anything else that draws your attention, a trained surveyor can help you determine the cause (which may not be immediately apparent) and advise you if/what action needs to be taken.
How to prevent external joinery issues
The ideal situation is to effectively maintain the external joinery of your property and there are some simple steps you can take to look after your property:
- Regularly inspect your external joinery and look for signs of damage, rot, cracks or warping.
- Address any issues you notice e.g. fill cracks or repaint the wood; make sure perimeter seals of windows/doors are intact.
- Clean and repaint regularly to protect the joinery from damp, infestations and keep it looking attractive.
- Ask a professional to inspect anything you are unsure about.
Get in touch
While some issues with external joinery could be significant to rectify, others pose no immediate problems. If you are concerned about any potential issues at your property, we are here to help. Our team of Chartered Surveyors have years of experience inspecting, diagnosing and offering advice on appropriate action. Please get in touch with any questions or to book a survey.