Top tips for maintaining your own ‘manor’

Gardener cleaning the roof from a cherrypicker at Knightshayes, Devon — Cleaning the roof in a cherrypicker at Knightshayes, Devon | © National Trust Images/Liz Abdey

Every spring our team of building surveyors carry out a series of routine checks to make sure the historic buildings in our care are in top condition. Here they share a selection of their top tips on how you can keep your own ‘stately home’ maintained to a similar standard this year.

1. Look for debris within gutters and remove anything you find.

The last thing you need is your gutters overflowing, as they help to protect the roof, walls and foundations of your home. Clearing your gutters in the spring can help prevent costly repairs in the future.

2. Make a visual inspection of the chimneys from the ground, using binoculars if necessary.

Check chimney pots, flashings and flaunching (the material that tops the brickwork and that the pots sit on). If any aerials are fitted, examine their condition, as the last thing you want is a leaky roof.

3. Look for blocked downpipes.

This is best done during heavy rain to see water emerging from any leaky joints, so put your weatherproof coat on and grab an umbrella. In dry weather look for stained brickwork/stonework or vegetation growing from the wall.

Conservation team surveying the roof at The Vyne, Hampshire — Surveying the roof at The Vyne, Hampshire | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

4. If the ground is paved with hard material, check for staining

If you start to notice damp patches or algae on your hardstanding areas or boggy bits in your lawn close to your home, it might just be worth looking up at the guttering. You may find they are the result of leaking gutter joints. Again, the best time to look is when it's rainy.

5. Use a hand mirror to look behind rainwater pipes

Splits and cracks behind pipes are very difficult to access once they are fixed to the wall, so rather than pulling your guttering off the house you can use a small mirror to check the condition in behind.

6. Rainwater hoppers should not be used as planters.

Plants always seem to thrive where they're not meant to – rainwater hoppers being a firm favourite. They may look pretty but they don't do your gutters any favours.

Rain falling from guttering at Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

7. On paved areas such as patios or drives check the joints between the paving.

Rake out and repoint as necessary. It’s also good practice to clean the surfaces to remove algae – it not only makes it look better but algae can be slippery stuff.

8. Check ground-level gullies and drains.

Wild winter weather can easily block drains and open gullies with leaves, twigs and dirt. Make sure they are clear of debris and have them cleaned out if necessary.

9. Fit bird and leaf guards to the tops of chimneys.

Come spring, birds are looking for the perfect place to build nests, with chimneys seeming to be a top candidate. This can be a real safety issue as they block the free flow of gases such as carbon monoxide.

10. Have gutters realigned if they are sloping the wrong way or discharging water onto the wall.

If it’s a cast gutter, paint the inside as well as the outside, as this protects the metal from rusting which in turn prevents those troublesome leaks. Plastic guttering joints can come loose in the winter wind so check where they may have moved away or started sloping the wrong way.

Estate worker painting the iron gates at Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire — Painting the iron gates at Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire | © National Trust Images/John Millar

11. Check boundary fences and walls.

Realign or replace defective fence panels and undertake point work to copings. Both wooden and metal fencing need maintenance – paint or wood preservation can vastly extend the life of your fences or railings.

12. Lift manhole access covers and flush a toilet to see that drains are flowing.

For some of our places we've found sneaky ways to camouflage manhole covers to be in keeping with the historic surroundings. The water hydrant covers at the front of Hardwick Hall have specially masoned paving slabs to identify them rather than standard metal covers. NB. manhole covers can be heavy and difficult to remove and replace; they also need to be properly repositioned so as not to become a trip hazard.

13. Assess the external joinery doors, windows, fascias and barge boards.

See if external joinery needs repainting or treating. Look out for peeling paint and bubbles that water could potentially get behind. Dry summer is the best time to do this work, so make a note and plan ahead.

Remember

Don’t undertake routine maintenance work at high level unless you are accompanied and have suitable equipment. If in doubt always seek help from a professional.