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Exterior Home Repairs in Australia
Exterior DIY Home Repairs, Maintenance and Construction
Exterior home repairs, maintenance and construction in Australia could be done by numerous building and maintenance companies.
However, most of the exterior home repairs can be Do It Yourself.
In Australia exterior home repairs which are non structural, non electrical and non plumbing types of work do not require a licensed tradesman.
Majority of exterior home repairs in Australia can be done by the owner.
The following is the list of exterior home repairs which are common and can be DIY:
- Gutters Repairs
- Asphalt Repairs
- Concrete Cracks Repairs
- Exterior Brick Maintenance
Gutters Repairs
The gutter repair is one of the routine home maintenance jobs.
Gutter needs to be properly inspected and cleaned before works can begin.
It is a good idea to install extenders to the bottom of the downspouts.
These extenders will carry water away from foundation.
Remove the damaged section of the gutter.
Extenders which hold the gutter have screws for easy disassembly (spanner or screwdriver will be sufficient).
At this point you should install straps to fix gutter to the roof line.
Use level to check if the gutter is reasonably aligned.
To avoid sagging of gutters you should install gutter mesh to prevent larger debris from collecting inside the basin.
Ladders safety and protective gear must be observed throughout this maintenance job.
Asphalt Repair
Asphalt should last between 15 to 20 years if maintained properly. The method is not simple but allows the satisfaction of not using the feared handyman.
- Clean the driveway, especially the affected area.
- Pour liquid soap into cracks and wet the soap slightly with water.
- Emulsified soap should be spread with the broom.
- Rinse the soap and repeat the process until the driveway is clean.
- Wait for asphalt to dry.
- Add liquid crack filler into small cracks. For bigger cracks use cold patch asphalt.
- Generally, cold patch asphalt and crack filler are available from the building stores.
In both cases the substance should be spread even with a brick or something similar.
Asphalt cannot be washed. Therefore, for home repairs or maintenance where asphalt is used, you must wear old clothes.
Concrete Cracks Repairs
Moisture is the main reason for cracks in the concrete. As cracks develop, the problem worsens because water gets trapped in ever larger cavities. To maintain concrete and fix small cracks in it:
- Rinse the crack with water and then let it dry.
- Brush away the loose material within and around the crack. Use strong tools (wire brush, screwdriver etc) to remove the debris.
- Use mortar caulking tube for small cracks and concrete patch for large ones.
- Smooth away the excess mortar and clean tools in water.
Remember this DIY job may not look dangerous. However, you must wear safety glasses and preferably protective gloves too. In order to keep concrete sealed from the elements you may purchase solvent based sealants. It is a liquid material which will protect the concrete from moisture.
Exterior Brick Maintenance
Cleaning bricks can be tricky but generally, the process does not require experts.
The main thing is to remove unwanted stains caused by mold, mildew and algae.
The discoloured bricks are usually problem in older homes.
Long exposure to elements may in fact discolour bricks and spoil the esthetics of the house.
Bricks cleaning is the exterior home maintenance which can be relatively inexpensive.
There are 3 types of cleaning methods which can be deployed:
- 1 part of vinegar to 5 parts of water creates mixture which sufficiently allows to clean mold and algae on bricks. You should let the mixture soak for 1 hour before rinsing brick with the water.
- Bleach should be used for cases where vinegar mixture is insufficient. 1 part of bleach to 5 parts of water is sufficient to clean severely discoloured bricks. Always test the mixture on the small section of the brick.
- Power washing is for industrial cases and should not be used without proper inspection. The method is effective but it can break the bricks and the mortar.
When you do exterior brick maintenance you must inspect the the bricks before work is started. With bleach or power washing you may cause damage to your walls.