ReadyBuilt homes have a wonderful reputation for being low maintenance and easy to clean. There are a few simple steps below you can take to care for your ReadyBuilt, as you would with any home, and especially such a large investment. You can also download a .pdf on general maintenance here.
We recommend that you wash ALL the exterior surfaces of your building twice a year using a hose and soft brush with fresh water, to wash away any contaminants.
Particular attention should be paid to those areas high on the walls that do not get washed by rain or do not get dried by the sun, and where dampness can remain for long periods. This includes soffits, or eaves, to remove dirt and mould.
When you clean the exterior aluminium, do not forget window and door frames and the corner profiles of the home or building.
Mould growth will be more obvious in damp localities and will occur more often than not on the shady side of the home. Regular washing down with Janola and water or Resene Moss & Mould Killer can prevent mould growth.
Moisture is the greatest potential cause of damage to the interior timber surfaces of a home and it is important that you make sure that your home is properly ventilated. Obviously, the most important areas to ventilate are those where you use water: kitchen, laundry, bathrooms, and the toilet.
To avoid condensation, pay particular attention to allowing steam to easily escape in the kitchen, shower, bathroom and laundry. Open windows slightly were possible and ensure your extractor fans are properly vented to the outside.
Make sure that your clothes drier has correct and adequate ventilation to the outside of the building.
The moisture content of the timber in the Lockwood components of the building should be no lower than 10% and no higher than 16%
For information on installing ventilation systems in older Lockwood homes with no roof cavity please visit- www.homeventilation.co.nz/no_roof.htm
Only galvanised, stainless steel, or aluminium nails or screws should ever come into contact with the aluminium cladding. Other types, such as brass or copper nails and screws must never be used because they can cause corrosion of the aluminium.
Foundation ventilation must be kept clear of rocks, timber, plants and other obstructions.
The aluminium sheathing must never be punctured in any way as this can allow water to enter the timber.
Vertical tie rods should have been tightened shortly after the building was completed. Although uncommon, you may find that you need to tighten the tie rods. Tightening tie rods is not a difficult procedure and something you can carry out yourself. If your home is sitting on timber piles, you can easily locate tie rods from underneath the house. Once located you will need to do the following;
1. Grease or spray rod/nut
2. Tighten to reach a point of firm tension then back half a turn
3. Do not over tighten
4. Repeat as required or every 24 months (rule of thumb only)
If your home sits on a concrete subfloor you will need to remove the flashing baseboard to locate the tie rods this way. Once located, follow the recommendations above. If your Lockwood was built after 2013, the tie rods have a spring to ensure they are correctly tensioned and will not need tightening. For further advice on this procedure please contact us.
It is recognised that exposed exterior timber will naturally tend to move. Splits and cracks may appear and there may be gum leakage.
We suggest an application of biocide and protective coating should be applied to reduce deterioration. However, it may require twice yearly maintenance for this treatment to stay effective.
Any distortion, fungal or mould growth is purely cosmetic and should not adversely affect the structural nature of the product provided the surface is adequately maintained.
Dark painted colours on timber exterior surfaces can result in excessive heat absorption causing undesirable timber movement. This can be significantly reduced by the use of light or neutral colours and stains.