Old houses have a character of their own. There is something about old houses that you cannot replicate; no matter how much you may try to follow a similar construction model and materials. For this reason, a lot of people do not opt to remodel their houses when it requires repair and maintenance. They wish to retain the old-world rustic charm of the house.
Houses undergo wear and tear like other materials that are used by humans. Unlike natural landscapes that regenerate after being worn out, homes cannot withstand neglect. When something is broken or worn out in your house, you must fix it to preserve the integrity of your home. Just like a disease that’s caught early, taking immediate action on home repairs can prevent additional damage from occurring.
If you’re used to tackling small house repairs, then chances are you’d like to take on the project yourself. Or, you can hire a professional to repair those cracked walls and broken pavement. However, with the right tools and a few online tutorials, you can arm yourself with enough knowledge to do those projects on your own. Though it’s important to remember if the damage is extensive, consider hiring the services of an expert.
REPAIR THE WALKWAYS
- Firstly, you should inspect the walkway and examine whether the base is firm or see there are depressions and elevations beneath the pavers.
- If the base has not caved in, you can take out the paver blocks and replace them with new ones.
- In case the base has been damaged, you will need to even it out using gravel, sand, or soil. You’ll need to use a shovel and a tamper to complete this step.
- It is up to you whether you want to keep the same pattern or layout a new one. If you wish to replicate the old design, then consider taking a photograph for reference.
- You may need a pickaxe to take out the pavers. Over time, some get broken or worn out. You will either replace them or if you cannot find similar ones, consider getting new ones that are close to the original. It will ensure that you retain some of the old charm of your walkway.
- If you are reusing the old pavers after settling the base, then scrape away the soil between the pavers before putting them back in.
- Use a tamper to even out the walkway base after adding either sand, gravel, stone or soil.
- You will also need a level while laying the pavers on the walkway.
- Use a rubber hammer to level out the tiles.
- Fill the gaps between the pavers/tiles with stone dust.
- If you think that there may be any burrowing animals around, then dig holes on either side of the walkway and fill it with concrete.
- This will ensure that the ground beneath the pavers remains smooth and level.
If you have all the tools and are physically capable, then you can repair your walkway yourself. Otherwise, you can find companies like an asphalt company in Greenwich that will help you put your house in order.
REPAIR THE WALLS
Repairing walls depends upon the type of walls in your house. The external walls of a home are load bearing walls and can be expected to be worn out over the years. In contrast, the interior walls are those that divide up space into rooms and are usually non-load bearing walls. However, it is not always the case that the interior walls are non-load bearing. Consider the repairs of the walls accordingly.
- If you have to repair cracks and holes in plaster, you will require filler, a filling knife, and a paintbrush.
- The type of filler to use will depend on the wall material.
- Remove any loose plaster from the wall crack with a scraper or a knife and wet the crack with a paintbrush before fixing it with filler.
- Using a filling knife, load some filler on the hole at the right angle to the crack.
- Press firmly and leave it to dry.
- Smooth it out with an abrasive paper and apply a coat of paint to even out the surface.
If you have painted walls, you may notice damp patches on your walls at some point in time.
- Firstly, check to see if this is caused by a leak. If that’s indeed the issue, then have it fixed and apply a fresh coat of paint to the area.
- If a leak is not the issue, you can get rid of wet patches by applying a damp sealant or oil-based undercoat on the walls first.
- You can also use micro porous acrylic paint as it helps the walls breathe and prevents damp patches.
Online tutorials and widespread availability of the requisite tools have made house repairs easier. Anyone with a sound sense can try it on their own. However, it is always better to get some expert advice and help if you have never seen anyone doing repairs or haven’t done any yourself!
