Marina Property: Protect Your Waterside House From The Winter

Winter is approaching and we need to be sure that our houses are fit to face whatever Mother Nature should visit upon us this year. Those of us who own a marina property, waterside house or sea-view house, should be paying special attention to property maintenance, particularly if it is not our main residence and may be standing empty over this period.

Paramount among the items that should be attracting your immediate attention are roofs and gutters, heating and insulation, and doors, windows and paintwork. Keeping the property free of cold and damp is not only good for the fabric of the building and its contents, but is easier on the wallet too.

Take a good look at the tiles or slates on the roof. Replace any that are broken or missing, or reset any that are loose. Ensuring the water is kept out is one of the most important actions you can take. The real attraction of a marina property or waterside dwelling is to look out at the water, not have it inside with you.

Clean out leaves, moss and dirt from rainwater gutters, from the downpipes and gullies. Any joints that may leak or that are not secure should be fixed.

The insulation in the roof can be disturbed or destroyed by birds and rodents. Check out the insulation throughout the roof space, and think about adding more. Thicker and more effective insulation will certainly help you to keep down your heating costs.

Have the central heating boiler and the heating system serviced, and check to make sure that all the thermostats and programmers are operational, efficient, and set at a reasonable ambient temperature. When the property is left unattended, wind down the temperature to a maintenance level. Just as before this should reduce heating bills, while at the same time help the property combat the effects of cold and damp.

If the property has old, thick brick or stone walls, don't allow the structure to get cold. Just building the ambient temperature back up to a comfortable level will use up lots more energy, and will possibly result in condensation on the walls, which in itself often leads to mould and spores. These can prove a hazard particularly for those with breathing problems. This can be avoided by keeping the walls relatively warm and damp free.

If you rely on bottled gas, oil, or other fuel which must be ordered and delivered for your central heating, make sure that your vendor has instructions and access if you will be away from the property

How do you retain the heat in the home? Make certain that all exterior doors and windows fit properly into the structure of the house, and that they all close properly. Fit draught proofing where you can find spaces between the frames and the structure, and around the opening edges of doors and windows. Keep doors inside the house closed to help reduce heat loss from unnecessary draughts. Check the paintwork on the window frames and decorate before the weather conditions deteriorate. Thorough preparation of the surfaces prior to painting and using good quality paint is key to providing a long lasting finish. By November, the most suitable painting weather may have gone by, so take action now if you need to.

If your windows are not double-glazed, think about having heavier curtains, and keep them closed at night. South-facing curtains should be kept open where practical to do so, maximising the sunlight, which can certainly help warm up the property.

Many wind and water issues can be exacerbated when living by the water. In a marina property or in any sea-view or waterside house, the things that drive you to live there can give you most headaches However, with forward planning and regular maintenance on your part, you and the elements can cohabit quite successfully.