Rok, the building and maintenance services company is using National Maintenance Week (November 21-28) as a timely opportunity to advise homeowners and schools on vital winter maintenance for their property.

With wet and cold weather already being felt across the country, it is important to ensure that roofs, gutters and heating systems are ready for the strain this may put on them in the coming weeks and months.

As well as offering helpful tips to homeowners, Rok is giving schools all over the Country the opportunity to take up a free advisory visit to look at any work which may be required to keep the buildings in a well-maintained state.

Rok works at hundreds of schools across the country and offers a ‘handyman’ service using directly employed, well-trained, multi-skilled maintenance technicians to help keep schools’ costs to a minimum and to help prevent expensive problems arising.

The advisory visits will see Rok carry out a series of checks to help highlight potential and existing problems.

Rok’s regional maintenance leader for the North East, Graham Shord, believes National Maintenance Week is an ideal opportunity to make people aware of ten simple ways they can prepare their homes for winter.

He said: “Sometimes it is the simple things which anyone can do that can save you a lot of money in the long run, while others are relatively low cost professional jobs which are necessary to ensure more expensive problems do not occur. With winter and Christmas drawing near, the last thing people need is a flood or a boiler breakdown that can leave them without heat, or with an unnecessary high bill.”

Graham’s top ten tips are:

Check the roof is fully watertight. Replace any slipped or missing tiles.

Remove any vegetation from masonry; roots will cause frost damage as well as damp penetration.

Remove any rubbish from roofs and valleys; drinks cans and plastic bags are often the cause of blockages and floods.

Cut back vegetation around the perimeter of your building. It is important to allow air to circulate and to ensure ground levels are at least two brick courses below internal floor level to reduce the chances of penetrating or rising dampness. Check the condition of nearby trees.


Clean gutters at least once a year.

Check rainwater pipes; look for moss or staining, especially around joints and hopper heads.

Clean gullies and make sure that drains are clear.

Check attic spaces and tanks. Is the loft insulation intact and is the plumbing properly insulated?

Get the boiler serviced and check the fuel. Radiators might need bleeding of air and valves might need easing. Check the controls and settings. Leave the system on a low setting if you’re away for a few days.

Make sure there is a disaster plan. Does the occupier know how to turn the water off and who to call?

Graham added: “The school visits are a great way to take advantage of our expertise for free and be sure that the potential for any problems is spotted now and not before a serious issue arises.”

Email: garvis.snook@rokgroup.com