Your new home support guide.
As you begin life in your new, hand-crafted home, this guide will provide helpful advice in caring for your new home.
Be aware of extreme
weather conditions
Stronghold Homes is not responsible for any damage caused to your property by extreme weather conditions i.e. storms, high winds, freezing temperatures etc. Any problems that arise should be covered by your own home insurance.
Taking care
of your home
Your home is an important investment, and regular care and maintenance will help keep it in the best possible condition for years to come. As a homeowner, you are responsible for the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of your property. To help you get the most out of your home, we’ve put together a few helpful tips and simple steps you can take to keep everything running smoothly.
Your Roof Space
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Your roof space in your home has not been designed for storage. This can lead to a risk of damage or condensation.
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During construction the structure of your property including the concrete, bricks, timber, plaster and other materials will have absorbed water. This is normal, and over the first year your new build should be run in gently to allow this to evaporate and dry out.
Understanding Moisture and Shrinkage
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Your home is made with a lot of water. As your new home settles and you live in, and heat your home, small hairline cracks may appear on walls, ceilings, and on the corners of skirting boards. This is a normal part of the building process. Stronghold Homes are not responsible for correcting these.
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Maintaining even temperatures throughout your home will help minimise shrinkage. Do this by ensuring all rooms, including those that are unoccupied, are evenly heated. Refer to your aftercare brochure for further information.
Efflorescence
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As your home dries, a white deposit may appear on the walls. These marks are normal natural salts- these are not harmful and can be easily wiped off internal walls and will eventually disappear from external walls. However, if this persists, it may indicate a water leak and should be reported within the 2-year warranty period.
How to reduce moisture in your home:
Condensation is common as your home dries, but if you let it persist it can cause mould on the walls and ceilings, and this mould can cause further damage. It is important that moisture from the kitchen and bathrooms are ventilated away. Here are some of the things we advise to produce less moisture and prevent mould from building up:
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Open windows and have fans on when bathing or showering.
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Open windows and use extractor fans in the kitchen when cooking, washing, and when drying clothes indoors.
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Cover pans when cooking.
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Try to dry clothes outdoors as much as possible instead of placing them on radiators - If using an electrical dryer, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
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When using the kettle, toaster, or other appliances, ensure you move them out from under cupboards to prevent steam from damaging the cupboards above.
Heating your new home:
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Homes that are heated consistently throughout the day are less prone to condensation than if you leave the heating off all day when you’re out. Returning home to cook, use washing machines and dryers results in the home being heated unevenly and means your home is more likely to suffer condensation problems. For the first 12 months, try to ensure your home is heated consistently and continuously, and keep your heating on a timer to prevent stark temperature differences and avoid condensation build-up.
Ventilating your home:
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When cooking, switch on your cooker hood.
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Use ventilation systems and bathroom fans correctly. Do not switch of bathroom.
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Keep trickle vents open (on your windows) – these are designed to allow air flow into your home.
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Do not block the air gaps under your doors – these are to circulate air around the home.
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Follow the steps described to prevent moisture build-up.