4 Outdoor Hazards Everyone Ignores Until it’s Too Late

In all honesty, it’s pretty easy to look out at the garden and think it’s all harmless. Which, yeah, that makes total sense, especially when you’re pretty positive you have the perfect lawn, right? Like, the grass is trimmed, the trees look lovely, the shed is still standing, and nothing seems out of place. But you might be surprised to hear that half the stuff sitting quietly around the lawn could be plotting against your house. Well, not intentionally, of course, and no, not in a horror movie way, but in a “this could cost thousands if it goes wrong” kind of way.

So that makes some sense, right? Basically, any sort of accident can be costly, but it just hurts more when it could have been prevented. Actually, some of the biggest culprits are the ones people overlook until disaster strikes. But yeah, by then, it’s too late, and the only thing left to do is ring the insurance company and hope for the best.

How’s the Health of Your Trees?

Hands down, we can all agree that trees look gorgeous, but they can also be ticking time bombs. Well, no, not the small ones. Actually, it’s a big, weak, or diseased tree leaning a little too close to the house is basically an accident waiting to happen. Again, if it’s a smaller tree, it’s fine, but anything that’s ten years or older is going to be pretty big, pretty heavy, and can cause a lot of damage. 

It’s scary to think, but one strong storm and that beautiful oak could end up on your roof or on top of your car. Sure, technically, any tree that doesn’t have a disease could cause damage too; bad weather is known for making trees fall. When it falls, well, the damages are expensive, which is why it might be best to look into a tree removal service, because sometimes the only safe option is to say goodbye before nature decides for you. It might feel dramatic, but it’s a lot cheaper than rebuilding half your house.

Take a Look at Your Gutters 

Nobody thinks about gutters until they’re already overflowing like a waterfall in the middle of a downpour. The problem is, clogged or broken gutters is that they can cause water to pool around the foundation. Pretty much, that water seeps into places it shouldn’t, and over time, it weakens the structure of the home.

Sometimes, this can happen as soon as the very first downpour hits. But it leads to things like cracks, leaks, mould, it’s a slippery slope that starts with a few soggy leaves sitting in a pipe. So, just clearing them out might be boring, but it’s less painful than footing the bill for foundation repairs.

Loose Roof Tiles

This one goes with the above, but a loose roof tile seems harmless until a gust of wind comes along and sends it flying into a window, the neighbour’s car, or worse, someone’s head. But apart from the damage it can cause, missing tiles are an open invitation for water leaks. 

Fences Ready to Collapse

It might not seem like a big deal, but weak or rotting fences can come crashing down onto anything nearby, including cars, sheds, or even people. Oh, and it’s not just your property at risk; if it falls onto the neighbour’s side, expect awkward conversations and possibly even an insurance claim.