Are the rainwater goods (gutter, downpipes) made of plastic or metal?
If it’s the latter, look for signs of rusting or leaking. Plastic gutters are vulnerable at the joints. Visiting the property when it’s raining can be useful in identifying these problem areas. Check #7. Look at the roof carefully Is it bowed? If it is, there might be a problem with the underlying timbers. Are any tiles or slates missing? One or two may not be a problem, but a larger number missing may have allowed water penetration with consequent problems for the timbers and ceilings. (If you’ve skipped ahead in this issue, go back to Check #4 for details on the horrors of water penetration.) Check #8. Wall-covering plants, such as wisteria or ivy, can hide a multitude of problems Be aware of this particularly on older properties – it may not be such a picture perfect house! Among the problems lurking beneath the foliage, you might discover damp and uneven walls. But that’s not all… insects and rodents use vegetation as a bridge to gain entry to your buildings. Materials left against
