If your home is your investment, or even if it isn't because you are either renting, or living with someone - it is up to you to take care of it.

What separates the idea of a house and idea of a home? Well, a lot of important stuff actually - namely comfort and safety. If your house is crumbling or leaking, how can you find it comfortable enough to call it a home? It is time to take matters into your own hands and learn how you can nail home maintenance.

One of the things you need to ensure that you do with home maintenance is be proactive. You need to have a basic toolbox and supplies available that will handle the simple issues so that you can deal with them when they occur. If you are proactive and go looking for issues in the home, not only will you be able to find them, but you will be able to fix them!

Simple issues in the home revolve around leaks. Leaks can go unnoticed for ages, especially if they are on the outside of your property. Guttering is a major issue as leaks can build up to roofing issues if gutters are not cleaned out. A simple ladder is all it takes to excel here! Piping is an issue as well especially in colder months so master pipe care with heat trace tape to ensure it’s in good health in those cold days!

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One key issue that flies under the radar with homes is brickwork. Older bricks can get damaged, that's life - but if you do not replace them - these damaged bricks can open up your home to the cold. Bricks get damaged through years of exposure to rain and frost. A scouting mission around the exterior of your property will suffice here to identify problems in your brick work. When you do notice a problem brick, work quickly to find a replacement brick that is the same color as the wall you will be fitting it in to. The mortar used also needs to match for the look to be completed! How do you remove a dodgy brick? Well you certainly don't take a sledgehammer to it! Remove a brick by drilling multiple holes through it so it can be scraped away. With the mortar, chip it away but be vigilant that you don't destroy connecting mortar and bricks while you try to replace a single brick! Once you've opened up a hole by removing the brick - lay down the new mortar and then insert the new brick, filling in the gaps as you go. You might have a bunch of brick issues - but it isn't worth rushing through a brick wall as it can lead to structural issues. Deal with replacing one brick at a time over a number of weeks.

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Plenty of issues in the home can go unnoticed, but it’s up to you to master them before they can grow and become serious issues in the home!