How to Keep Your Prefab Home in Top Condition

Are you thinking of buying or already own a prefabricated transportable home? Prefab homes offer a faster, more cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional construction. However, like any home, they require regular maintenance to ensure their longevity.

Here are some practical tips to keep your prefab home in top condition.

Regular Inspections

• Visual Inspection: Visual checks of both inside and outside the home to look for any signs of damage, such as cracks, water damage, or pest infestations.
• Foundation Check: Inspect the foundation for any signs of the ground settling around the piles. A great idea to maintain a consistent environment under a home, and to prevent any dampness rising, is to place a layer of builders’ polythene under the home. This helps maintain the moisture levels in the sub soils and keeps the area under the home nice and dry.

Roof Inspection:

• Roofs are usually of Longrun Coloursteel of a variety of profiles. These roofs have a very low maintenance requirement but it is a good idea to check the screw fixings at least once a year as they can move a little in the heat.

Exterior Maintenance

• Cleaning: Regularly clean the exterior of your prefab home to remove dirt, grime, and mildew. We recommend never using a water blaster on the outside of a home, softwashing is the best.
• Guttering and Downspouts: Clean gutters and downpipes to prevent water damming and overflowing via the back of the spouting system.
• Painting: Repaint your home’s exterior every few years to protect it from the elements and maintain its aesthetic appeal. Using good quality paints, and softwashing your home, is the way to keep exterior maintenance to a minimum.

Interior Maintenance

• HVAC System: Look after your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Clean or replace filters, schedule professional checks and ensure proper airflow.
• Plumbing: Check for leaks in pipes and faucets. Regularly inspect the HWC pipework, toilets pipe connections, sinks, and showers for any signs of water leakage.
• Electrical Systems: Avoid overloading electrical outlets and circuits. Loading up a power point with a multi-box that has several high powered appliances on it is a potential fire risk.
• Smoke detectors: Check and test these in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.

Pest Control

• Preventive Measures: Seal cracks and gaps in your home’s exterior to prevent pests from entering.
• Professional Treatment: If you notice a pest infestation, consult a professional pest control service for effective treatment.

Professional Maintenance

While a lot of the maintenance can be done by homeowners, it’s best to call a professional if you start to notice these possible issues.

• Roof Damage: A professional roofer can repair any issues like leaks or damage from storms.
• HVAC Systems: A qualified HVAC technician can ensure your system is running efficiently and effectively with maintenance checks and fixes if needed.
• Plumbing Trouble: A plumber can repair any plumbing issues, such as leaks or clogged drains in a timely and safe manner.
• Electrical Inspections: A licensed electrician can inspect your electrical system and address any safety concerns. This isn’t needed regularly but if you do find a circuit is “tripping “ regularly then it’s a good idea to have an electrician check things over.

Follow these maintenance tips to keep your prefabricated home as good as new.