When people say home maintenance is never-ending

[Pepperminttt]

FTB here and I’m sure this is a daft question but…

People often say home maintenance is never ending eg it gets mentioned on here a lot.

Does this mean routine preventative maintenance like, I don’t know, keeping gutters clear? Or things unexpectedly needing repair? Or both in equal parts?

It’s both. Sometimes it’s little things, sometimes it’s big things. Sometimes it’s things you see coming and sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes things have to be done right there and then and sometimes they can wait until you have the money (or it gets a lot worse). So the boiler/shower/a broken window or door you need to fix straight away but cracking a tile in the kitchen or the carpet in the spare room is ugly and starting to fray can wait until there’s spare money (usually a long time).

We’ve lived in our house for 6 years. Our house needed a lot doing to it but big house maintenance we’ve done would be painting inside twice, replacing the windows and doors, new boiler, new flooring in the living room and upstairs, electrics being sorted, new shower, new lighting. We planned for some of that but things like the new boiler, electrics and shower weren’t planned for. Small things like the shower head has needed replacing a few times (we’re in a hard water area), we’ve painted the fence and gate, the gate has needed a new padlock because it seized, the gate has needed a new handle because it rusted off, the fence panels have blown over, a tree has fallen down. Again some of that we planed for like painting the fence and gate and some we didn’t like the tree and fence.

There’s also things like our washing machine is getting quite old and we’ve had the repairman out to it twice, we’re prepping ourselves for that going sooner rather than later. The fridge is also quite old so prepared that might go.

Things generally have a shelf life though especially the bigger stuff so once they’re done you can tick them off for a while. So doing the roof you’d probably looking at 30+ years, windows every 20 years along with the driveway. Kitchens and bathrooms every 10-20 years. Boiler every 10 years. Painting every 3-5 years. Painting the fence, every 2-5 years. Unblocking the gutters - much more frequently than I actually do!

In 20 years we have

changed the boiler.
Sorted the bathroom..
Changed the worktops and tiles in the kitchen (well a man did)
Replace carpets (but a man did that not us! And we've never had them cleaned, we hoover regularly they look fine)

We dont have hedges - we do cut the grass but didn't realise that counted as house maintenance and isn't onerous or a "always something needs doing" type stress. Much of that previous list was garden related and we have a small garden that doesn't take much looking after. The thread was about house maintenance rather than a gardening thread though.

We have painted and could probably do with painting again but so far on my list were looking at one thing ever few years- not a "there's always something". Maybe it's because the house isn't super old/super big. Or maybe we are missing something!!! But I can't see what it is yet.

This is why I can’t wait to stop renting!

Thanks, realised I wasn’t clear in my question. I meant to say presumably you do the inside and window cleaners do outside!

We've owned for 6 years and have only paid for cosmetic stuff that we've chosen to, and our boiler service (we had to pay a call out fee for our boiler once but had boiler cover so was only £60). Our current house is a 3 year old new build owned from new, precious was a 10 year old new build we lived in for 3 years.

I think also keeping decor current is a big on and not just for tastw. I remembera few years ago a quite nice house near where I grew up went in the market it had been build in the 80s when I wss a kid) & had a swimming pool! Unheard of in my village) but had original decor. It wss a big house and it definitely knocked 1000s off the price.

So keeping a home relatively contemporary to me is part of maintaining it. Plus ye all the ayuhh mentioned!

I imagine your bathrooms and kitchen are knackered. House must be desperate for a paint, suspect that flooring is also knackered. Boiler will be inefficient and need replacing at that age too.

I imagine you would feel a big benefit from a new boiler which would ultimately save you money over time and paint costs very little but can make a big difference.

Actually ignore that just seen your last comment

We’ve had a rush of jobs this year because we’ve just moved in….

• fixed broken hot water tank (essential as leaking through floor below)
• fixed guttering (DH up a ladder) (essential as water running down outside wall eventually equals mould)
• covered guttering with plastic topper that lets water in but keeps leaves out (non essential but should save time later and DH was already up there)
• moved fitted wardrobes from spare room to our room (non essential)
• replaced endless lightbulbs (essential)
• cleared much of garden (non essential)
• decorated two bedrooms (non essential)
• put up shelves in linen cupboard (non essential)
• windows cleaned monthly (by window cleaner, non essential to have it done that often)
• put stair carpet back on after cat tore it off (not entirely essential but a small job)

We then have a list that we will work through over the next few years to give us more pantry storage, a less flimsy ladder into the loft, decorate the remaining bedrooms, paint the stairs with tougher paint (small children leave dirty fingerprints and bash cricket bags against it and the current paint doesn’t wash well) etc etc

It’s constant. There’s the list of things you want to do, Need to do, and then there’s must do ASAP.

The first and second lists are endless, and to a point optional until there not when they slip into the ASAP category as they have or will cause your damage/ cost you money. The third one you have to keep on top off.

An example;
I left my house today. Looked back and there’s a slipped tile, and a pigeon sitting on the chimney. Putting a cage on the chimney to stop them pooping down has been on the no2. list but not yet done. But now I have to do it because this slipped tile means water. Inside! And that’s not good obviously.

So now I have to organise all that. And I am going on holiday next week. So if a squill or pigeon finds that hole before I get to it then I can add another trade to my ASAP list 😭

We bought our current house when it was c15 years old, so at the point where stuff needed doing.

Since buying we have replaced the boiler (after 2 years), an extension and new kitchen (not strictly needed), sorted the garden (needed after the garden) and we are just about to replace the bathrooms. We’ve also had to make some modifications to the roof due to condensation.

The double glazing could do with replacing but the driveway is next - it’s starting to look very tired.

We’ve also had to fork out for things on a semi regular basis such as maintaining the exterior (chemical cleaning of brick work, soffits and facias) as well as general decoration. The carpets we replaced around 6 years ago are now looking tired, even with regular professional cleaning.

It’s honestly never ending. I don’t know whether it’s because I didn’t notice and/or care when I was in a rental but it really does seem there isn’t a year when things don’t need doing. I’m hoping that when the bathrooms are done we can ignore the rest for a while 😬

My parents live in a big Victorian house - it’s no exaggeration to say it needs constant maintenance. Sometimes it’s just little things my dad can easily do himself, but over the years there’s been bigger things like roof repairs.

Other things I can think of…A few windows replaced due to warping , floorboards fixed/replaced, leaks, damp & mould prevention, gutters unblocking, replastering walls, plug sockets rewired, cracked tiles replaced, sewage blockage in manhole outside…

Wow we've never had anything on that list! But we do have a boring 80s house which probably explains it!

Things break, wear out and need cleaning. It's just part of life like keeping yourself groomed, fed, washed and tidy you do the same on a house. You need to budget every year for stuff being replaced and if you can keep back some savings......says the woman whose oven went kaput the day after I paid for a holiday.

Just had a quote for £15,000 for a new roof 😱😰
DH says it needs to be done.

DH says it needs to be done.

What use is a roof really?

Obviously the explanation is that everyone’s house is different. Some will require more maintenance than others.

Well yes. Happy to believe that old rambley family "piles" need far more work than mine. But the tone of the thread seemed to be there's "always something." Hence me wondering if there's something I'm not doing!

I dont have close family and often go through life wondering if there's things everyone else "knows" to do but I don't!

In 2.5 years in our maisonette, we have had to replace the soakaway, fix the toilet, replace the boiler, fix the internal doors repeatedly, replace a tap and the shower tube, fix a leaking drain. Not strictly necessary but we've also put a fence up in the garden, build a patio and flower beds and put a shed up and replaced half the windows. I've managed to paint two walls in that time, so painting is the next job (2 under 5 so you can imagine the state of the walls...). We also need new carpets, the gutters clearing and I am praying that the roof holds up.

To me the biggest thing is that you are entirely responsible for bearing the costs of everything! We've had to borrow from family to cover some of the costs.

How often do people repaint rooms, I don’t mean to change decor just to keep things fresh? I think this is one thing I have underestimated. We moved in 15 years ago, house was gutted so everything was done then. Repainting is the only thing that feels urgent and it’s partly because we have moved furniture around and had stair gates etc so there are marks and holes to fill.
On the boiler issue we have one from 1985 which is surprisingly efficient and everyone who services it tells us to keep it as long as possible.

Our house is 100 years old so does need a fair bit of upkeep. I’m really anal so have an excel spreadsheet that lists the outstanding jobs per room and I try to do at least one job every week. This weekend (and next) we’re stuck at home helping DS revise so we’re trying to tick off as many maintenance jobs as possible. So far this weekend we’ve:

Jetwashed the back patio
Fixed a wonky loo seat
Repainted part of a ceiling after a leak
Washed the front door and polished the brass
Touched up some chipped paint on hall door frames

We’ve still got to sort a dripping bath tap, a radiator that won’t heat up and DS’s bedroom door that won’t stay shut. Then to top it off, the dishwasher’s stopped working and DH wants to have a go rather than get someone in. It never ends and this is just a fraction of the ongoing jobs. I wish I had a reliable odd job (wo)man who would just come in and sort the lot.

We’ve only been in this one 11 months and we knew it needed work. So far we have:

Removed an awful workshop that blocked up half the parking
Installed garden room
New huge shed
New kitchen which included replastering and removing a broken Rayburn
New wooden windows and external doors
New limestone flooring in hall and kitchen
Partial rewire
Electric car charging point installed
Removed a huge run of

We are currently attempting to restore the original dining room fireplace, then the dining room will be decorated. On the list is:

Whole house needs painting apart from the kitchen
New carpets everywhere- they are all knackered
Relay floorboards in main bedroom, they are so crooked they are now dangerous.
Complete the rewire
Change oil boiler for a heat pump and new radiators Replace 90% of skirting boards as they are rotten
Update bathroom
Replace wooden steps to top terrace in garden as they are rotten and dangerous
Fix the dry stone wall and path in orchard
Plant new hedge on top of garden
Prune all the orchard trees
Take out 2 dead trees
Create new paths
Remove concrete path around house and put in french drain to improve water drainage
Deal with damp in dining room
Lay patio
Repoint chimneys
New ridge - thatch
Sitting room fireplace
Get on top of the woodlice and mice
Garden and outside lighting
New stopcock

And when we have finally done all that it will need a re: thatch and then we’ll be starting most of it again.

But it’s worth it.

*removed a huge run of 20ft hedge that blocked out all the light

rethatch! Not Re: thatch. Mad phone sorry!

Right now we are planning a new kitchen, have just steam cleaned the carpets, have the sofa covers in the wash, the washing line broke today, one fence is busted, fascias need either painting or replacing, we need an outdoor electric socket, the front door hardware needs replacing, and ants are getting in under the patio door.