General Maintenance

Thatch

In relation to your thatched roof, your thatcher should be able to give you an approximate plan of the expected lifespans for each part of your roof and will be able to highlight areas such as valleys, eyebrow windows, and so on, that you need to keep a closer eye on. If you don’t currently have a thatcher, please refer to the
Find a Thatcher section of the website.

Although we can provide you with advice over the phone, a good thatcher is one of the most important sources of local knowledge and information, and because every thatched house and roof is unique, asking the thatcher to physically look at your roof is the best option.

General Tasks

Please be aware that more comprehensive information is available on the Safety Advice pages of this website.

• Central heating systems should be regularly checked by an expert.
• Smoke alarms should be checked weekly.
• Electrical wiring should be ideally checked every 5 years – Check with your insurer.
• If you have an open fire, make sure your chimney is swept regularly and at least twice a year. Having your chimney lined is a sensible precaution and a requirement of many insurance companies.
• Check that you have the correct fire extinguishers and that they are in the correct location on the property. Also, be sure to find out when they need checking or servicing.

Insurance and Liability Notes

Always, if you are employing the services of a tradesman or woman, make sure they have their own Public Liability Policy which should cover any damage caused by possible negligence. It is likely that your own insurance policy will not cover you, so it is important to ask.

If you are concerned about any of the maintenance issues, it is always good practice to check with your insurance company's requirements first, and if you are still in doubt, you should contact them.