Preparing for Winter

When it comes to the integrity of your building envelope, water is enemy number one, but in summer, it's important not to forget about the role of dust as well. Whether you are undertaking a building restoration project in the Surrey area, looking for a general contractor or simply dealing with a leaky condo, the approaching change in the seasons will affect how you plan and manage that work. Lots of people wait until the winter comes and address unavoidable problems, but summer is the time to fix the building envelope - when absorbent structures won't be exposed to damp and rain.

It's also a great time of year to address dust‐clogged ducts. Summer in particular - with its pollen and dust, will lay down a layer of particles, which, when moisture is added come autumn, provides a perfect breeding ground for moulds and critters, such as dust mites. Mites are closely related to spiders and ticks. They make up a substantial part of the 30 - 40 lbs of dust generated by the average household per year ‐ more if you have pets. Mites, along with pet dander and general bacteria, have also been linked to problems with allergies and respiratory conditions. When a building contractor works on any envelop, even simple maintenance, making sure that ducts are cleared is vital. This may feel like a non‐essential outlay - but mould should be eradicated at every opportunity and utility bills will be lower when duct systems are cleared.

With older building restoration projects in the Surrey region, this can be complicated because of evolving building codes and complicated access points, however, with special equipment and the right expertise, much can be done to make sure that the envelope of your home is not also an ideal home for mould and mites.