Building maintenance guide

Hinckley High Street Heritage Action Zone building maintenance guide

The objective of this page is to guide property owners on how and when to undertake regular inspections and maintenance of their building. Good maintenance is important to buildings of all ages and types. Some deterioration of a building over time is inevitable, but regular maintenance helps slow the rate and lessens the need for large-scale, costly work further down the line.

This guide is designed so you can identify what to look out for across your building, a calendar of simple suggested maintenance checks that can be undertaken throughout the year, some helpful advice and information and further contact details.

Broken render on the side of a building
Window in a bad state of repair

By undertaking regular maintenance the condition of your building and the character of the wider Hinckley High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) and Hinckley Town Centre Conservation Area will be improved. A building with an upstanding appearance often encourages a successful business.

Grants are currently available via the HSHAZ for a range of works to historic buildings within the HSHAZ area including repairs. For more information, visit Hinckley High Street Heritage Action Zone

What to look out for on your building

Chimney

  • Damaged, cracked or missing brickwork
  • Damaged or cracked flaunching and flashing
  • Damaged, cracked or missing pot and cap
  • Leaning chimney
Brick chimney on a roof
Slate roof on a building

Roofs and gutters

  • Slipped, missing or damaged roof and ridge tiles
  • Moss and white/green staining
  • Missing or damaged flashing
  • Damaged, leaking or missing gutter/downpipe/hopper
  • Build-up of vegetation within gutters

Walls

  • Damp patches internally and externally
  • Missing or inappropriate mortar
  • Cracks in bricks or render
  • Flaked or peeling paint
A brick wall next to a rendered wall on a building
A traditional small shop front

Doors, windows and shopfronts

  • Damp patches internally and externally
  • Flaked or peeling paint
  • Rust or metal defects
  • Soft or crumbling areas of wood
  • Damaged glass
  • Cracked lintels above doors and windows
  • Sound operation of opening mechanism

At ground level

  • Bridging of damp course by raised levels
  • Blocked or obstructed air bricks
  • Vegetation abutting and growing up the building
Pavement outside a shop

Interior (building services, pipes and flues)

  • Check water and heating systems for leaks
  • Ensure that pipes are lagged
  • Get an expert to check electrical and gas installations
  • Check chimney flues are clear from obstruction and do not leak

Difficult to reach areas

Please note, for specific or difficult to reach areas you may need to seek the help of a professional who specialises in historic buildings and access arrangements.

Suggested maintenance check list

Regular checks are a vital part of building maintenance, so inspect as frequently as you can. Below is a calendar of suggested checks and tasks that could be carried out both internally and externally.

December, January and February

  • Have your electricity system checked by a qualified person every 5 years
  • Test and clean your smoke alarms
  • Clear valley gutters (if your building has them) of ice and snow
  • Check roofs and windows are bird-proof before bird nesting starts
  • Check for any defects on facing walls and chimneys and for missing flashing

March, April and May

  • Check that gutters and downpipes have not been damaged by frost
  • Clear leaves and debris from gutters and downpipes
  • Inspect your attic space (if there is safe access) to check for evidence of leaks or damage to the roof covering
  • Check roofs for frost, snow and wind damage
  • Check that windows can open and ventilate the building on dry and warm days
  • Clear away vegetation from drains and base of walls
  • Clear leaves and debris from gutters and downpipes

June, July and August

  • Check windows, doors and shopfronts for rotten timber or rusting metal. Repair and redecorate
  • Repair and redecorate facing walls, chimneys and roofs if possible
  • Check for signs of rot in hard to access areas such as roof voids and under the stairs
  • Have the boiler serviced and bleed air out of radiators

September, October and November

  • Inspect your attic space (if there is safe access) to check for evidence of leaks or damage to the roof covering
  • Ensure water tanks and exposed water pipes are protected from frost
  • Ensure any air bricks or under floor ventilators and free from obstruction and clean
  • Check if the heating system is working properly
  • Clear leaves and debris from gutters and downpipes

After high winds and heavy rain

  • Check roofs and windows for any breaks and damage. Look for debris on the ground from broken slates or tiles
  • Check gutters and rainwater goods for leaks – during or just after the rain will help you spot any leaking sections
  • Check for overflowing drains – these can be rodded and cleaned out
Revitalising our hi street logo
Funded by Historic England