Running In Your New Home 26/08/05

There are a few new purchases in life that appreciate a "running in period". Brand new cars often require a little adjustment and it's a good idea to scuff new shoes before they are subjected to a good evening out. NHBC, the leading warranty provider for new homes in the UK, says that the same is true for new homes.

Moisture, condensation and shrinkage can affect new homes but if homeowners take simple day to day measures they can prevent or limit damage occurring. Here are just a few top tips from NHBC on how to run in your new home:

• Be patient: The length of time it takes for a house to dry out will depend on the type of home and the time of year that owners move in but usually takes at least six months.
• Produce less moisture: Cover those pans when you are cooking and avoid allowing the kettle to boil for longer than you need it to. Hang wet washing outside as soon as you can and if you have a tumble dryer attach the hose and hang the end outside which will carry the moist air outside
• Avoid moisture spreading: Close the door when your cooking food and when taking a bath close the bathroom as this prevents steam escaping.
• Give moisture an escape route: If you are producing a lot of moisture try to ensure that a window is open or the "trickle ventilators" are open. Trickle ventilators are slotted vents found in the window frame and can be opened and closed. You may well find that your new home has an extractor fan - in which case use it! A fan will extract the moisture at source and prevent it spreading to other rooms. It is not expensive to run.
• Condensation on windows: If condensation does occur on window glass, simply wipe it away. Condensation that repeatedly settles where the glass meets a timber frame can, in time, cause the frame to rot. Allowed to persist, condensation can cause a lot of damage and lead to unnecessary expenditure.
• Keep a constant temperature: As the home is lived in and heated, timber and plaster will shrink, possibly causing fine cracks, which is normal. To minimise this, try to keep a reasonably even temperature in the house so the structure warms up and dries out gradually. If you have central heating, use it sparingly at first especially if you move in during winter.
• Dealing with cracking: The builder will probably have painted the walls with a light paint that lets moisture work itself out during the drying out period. Further coats of emulsion and oil-based paints or wallpaper can be used for later redecoration, after the walls have dried out (this normally takes nine to twelve months).
• Minor cracks: These should be left for a few months and then sealed after your new home has dried out. When you redecorate, use a good filler to make good any gaps and plaster cracks which may have arisen from normal drying-out and shrinkage.
• Ventilation: Built-in wardrobe doors should be kept slightly ajar during the drying out period, especially if the wardrobe is on an external wall.
• Loft care: Examine the loft regularly for signs of condensation. The builder will have put permanent ventilation in the roof, usually at the eaves, to avoid condensation. These openings which take the form of slots or holes should not be covered. Do not leave the loft hatch open because this will allow warm moist air into the loft, wasting heat and increasing the risk of condensation.

Notes to Editors:

NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK. It was established nearly 70 years ago as a non-profit distributing company. NHBC's primary purpose is to help raise standards in the new house-building industry and provide consumer protection for new house buyers.

NHBC's ten-year 'Buildmark' warranty covers 85 % of homes built in the UK and has protected more than 6 million homes.

NHBC helps raise standards by:

• registering builders who agree to comply with NHBC's Rules and Standards
• setting and maintaining construction standards for new homes
• inspecting at key stages of construction
• providing 'Buildmark,' the most comprehensive warranty and insurance cover for homes in the UK
• offering building control services in England and Wales
• providing a range of services, including technical information, training, health and safety, engineering and energy rating services for new homes and housing-related sectors.

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