Freezing winter weather: why its bad for your building

The cold winter weather has hit all areas of the UK, and shows no signs of letting up just yet.

Icy conditions, heavy rain and plenty of snowfall seem to be constantly affecting us. However, it’s this ongoing cycle of water freezing then melting that’s the biggest worry when it comes to your external metal walls and roofs.

Why is freezing weather a problem?

Changes in temperature have a big impact on your property. The main problem is the repeated freezing and thawing. Water enters even the tiniest cracks on your external façade. Though this is often not a problem with a well-maintained and expertly-finished coating, when then water freezes it expands.

This expansion creates larger cracks, allowing larger holes to develop and more water to enter. This causes weaknesses in the building’s structure, resulting in damage such as cut-edge corrosion that can spread problems into the property’s interior too.

What can be done to prevent extensive damage?

Freezing and thawing is a big problem. However, it’s one that’s easily overcome – in the right hands. For example, here at Cladding Coatings we offer a cut-edge corrosion external building repair service. It repairs the metal edge of the cladding that’s begun to peel back and deteriorate to seal cracks and stop water entering your property. We use industry leading systems to make sure your building stays watertight.

There are other external building maintenance services to look out for too. Have icy conditions damaged your guttering? If so, you’ll need to attend to this quickly so the gutters can perform their essential job of diverting water away from your roof. Gutter cleaning, coating and maintenance is key here.

You’ll also need to keep an eye on your paintwork. Have the cold conditions caused your cladding coating to crack? If so, you may be exposed to damage as well as poor appearance. To repair the problem, we can apply Pegarust, the solvent-based version of the trusted Rust-Oleum Noxyde® paint. It can be applied in freezing and damp conditions, meaning you can fix the problem straight away.

At Cladding Coatings, you’ll find a huge range of services that will make sure your external walls and roofs withstand the cold conditions. To talk to us about your building concerns, and find out how we can help, get in touch today.