The True Cost of Putting Off Structural Repair

8 November 2018
By Hamish Anderson

If you are like most property owners, you will think of structural property damage as something caused by significant events such as earthquakes, floods, or similar. But what many people do not realise, is that in most cases, significant structural damage – severe enough that repair works are required – is caused by something as innocuous as a leaking pipe or water getting into where it shouldn’t.

And for those who do see that there is a problem in the building, fixing the signs of damage is often viewed as adequate enough to have solved the issue. Truth is this though: Underlying problems do not go away by themselves and left unaddressed will cause more problems which in turn will increase the cost of repairs.

To be fair though, in some instances there are those individuals that know that they need to fix the problem but think that waiting until such time as they have adequate funding will be ok. Truth is, as the popular idiom runs “Time waits for no man“.

Lack of Maintenance Leads to Structural Failure

Cracked walls, uneven flooring, and misaligned doors are some of the tell-tale signs that the foundation of your building has been compromised. The indicate movement in the foundations which is likely due to factors other than bad luck.

For instance, cracked roof tiles allow rainwater to seep into the building.  Over time, water entering the property through these cracks moves unabated through the building cavity, causing wood rot, rising damp and in the worst cases issues with the foundation slab.
Left unattended, the issue will cause the building to shift, or allow more water in, exacerbating the issue and speeding up the decay process.

Structural Safety and the Need for Repair

Knowing what to look for is one part of the process, however, knowing where to look for the issue another entirely. Before you undertake any repairs, or worse, think you can put off doing invetigative work, it is worthwhile ruling out any other factors which may have caused you issues.
Only then can the repair process be planned and begun.

Putting Off Structural Repairs Can Actually Cost More

Sage practice dictates that you should always consider the cost of structural repairs for the long term (delaying works) vs the short term. Short term costs may seem high, but over only a small space of time, this cost can increase substantially.

PLUS, fixing an issue sooner than later maintains its value. A little crack that has been ignored; a broken roof tile which has not been replaced; or signs of instability in the foundation can all lead to structural issues, which will cost you more over time. Why delay, peace of mind is a phone call away.

A Remedial specialist can help assess your structure and help you decide which (if any) repair method best suits your needs. Remember that no matter the type of approach we recommend you, don’t just cover up the signs of damage, treat the underlying issues.