Autumn Maintenance Checklist for Cork Homeowners Before the Bad Weather Sets In

September is the time to stop putting it off. Once October arrives and the rain gets serious, you'll be dealing with problems rather than preventing them. If you live in a terraced house or an older semi-d, the kind that makes up so much of Cork city and the older suburbs, there are a few specific things that catch people out every single year.

Here is what we'd be checking before the weather turns.

Gutters and Downpipes

This is the big one for older Cork housing stock. Terraced houses in particular suffer because leaves and debris build up between rooflines and there is nowhere for the water to escape. A blocked gutter in a heavy Cork downpour is not a minor thing. It overflows back toward the fascia, soaks into the wall below and starts the whole damp cycle.

• Clear gutters of leaves and moss, especially if you are near trees.
• Check downpipes are not cracked or pulling away from the wall at the brackets.
• Run a hose through to make sure water flows freely to the drain.
• Look for any standing water pooling at the base of the house after rain.

Damp and Ventilation Inside

Older Irish houses were not built with modern insulation in mind, and many have had cavity walls, attic insulation or double glazing added over the years in ways that reduced natural ventilation. The result is condensation and damp, especially in north-facing rooms and on external walls. September is the last real opportunity to sort this before you seal the house up for winter.

• Check window reveals and corners of external walls for early signs of mould or tide marks.
• Make sure trickle vents on windows are open, not blocked with paint or debris.
• If you have a chimney you never use, a chimney balloon or cap will stop cold air funnelling in while still allowing some airflow.
• Check extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom are actually pulling air, not just making noise.

Roof and Flashings

You do not need to go up yourself. A pair of binoculars from across the road or a careful look from an upstairs window next door is often enough. You are looking for slipped or cracked tiles, and particularly for the lead or mortar flashing around chimney stacks. In older terraced houses, the shared stack between two properties is a common weak point. If it looks like the mortar is crumbling, get someone up before the first frost.

Exterior Timber and Paintwork

Window sills, door frames and any exposed fascia boards need a look. If the paint is cracking or peeling, water is getting in and the timber will soften over winter. A coat of exterior paint in September is far cheaper than replacing a sill in spring.

A couple of hours now and a small materials bill is nearly always better than the alternative come February.