Is your house in danger after the recent heatwave ?

Climate change is not just affecting the planet but is making our homes even more vulnerable to damage. So read how you can you futureproof your house and tackle whatever the weather throws at you…

We’re all enjoying the long hot summer. The good news is that we will get more heatwaves in the future. The flipside is that this is due to climate change and we’ll also see more flooding and savage storms. Ireland will be one of the countries worst hit by weather changes. This could spell disaster for homeowners who are not careful – and well-insured.

Damage to our homes caused by storms and flooding is only too obvious; but heatwaves can also cause damage.

Prolonged intense dry spells may cause cracks in paintwork and timber that will let in the heavy rain.

Subsidence and pyrite damage may be exacerbated by long hot summers as the soil underneath your home shrinks and cracks.

But are we covered for all this by insurance? Yes and no, says Trevor Kelly of Insurance Claim Solutions, which helps insured people to make claims for a fee (usually 10%).

‘You can insure against a peril – not wear and tear. It has to be a once-off definable event, not years and years of gradual deterioration,’ he says.

Extreme weather – especially long, hot summers followed by cold, wet winters – will impact our homes, as cracks opened up in paint and wood during dry spells fill with moisture and then freeze.

And claims for damage due to poor maintenance or low building standards exposed by extreme weather probably will not be paid.

Insurers policies are based on the principal of ‘utmost good faith’. Insurers assume your home is wellbuilt and well-maintained – and it’s up to you to keep it that way.

Here are six common household perils to watch out for:

SUBSIDENCE

This is where the ground slips away under your home, undermining the foundations. It mostly affects properties built on shrinkable soils such as clay, which will dry out even more during prolonged hot weather. But it can also happen on drier soils if flooding or water leakage washes earth away.

But what exactly is covered by your insurance?

Shockingly for affected homeowners, most incidences of subsidence are not covered.

The majority are blamed on poor building standards, choice of site or other uninsured issues. It could be caused by building on unstable ground – such as an infilled dump – over underground streams or within range of growing tree roots that all the moisture out of the soil. Expert Trevor Kelly says: ‘With subsidence, the underlying factor is difficult to identify. If I see 10 cases, three or four will get paid and the others will be down to problems with the foundations or other long term issues.’

Of the successful cases, 90% are due to leaky pipes washing away earth around foundations.

Underpinning a house could cost €150,000 or it could cost €10,000 depends on type of issue and how bad it is, said consulting engineer Jim Canning, whose firm has offices in Dublin, Cork and Kilkenny.

He said: ‘A few years ago there was a very heavy rain event which led to a lot of subsidence claims. Quite a few were repudiated. It’s always worthwhile getting a second opinion [from an engineer]. An engineer who’s not used to making these claims could have the wool pulled over his eyes by the insurer.’

SUBSIDENCE ACTION PLAN:

With repairs costing six figure sums, this makes it important for homeowners to spot the early warning signs. These include large, diagonal cracks that are wider at the top than the bottom and thicker than 3mm.

Cracking visible both inside and outside the property is worrying, as are large cracks around windows and doors.

Maintaining or removing trees, cleaning out guttering, and making sure pipes and plumbing are in good working order will also help prevent problems. You should also take note of leak notices from Irish Water, as long term leaks under the building can eat away the soil under your foundations.

FLOODING

Dublin is likely to be hit by increases in flooding, according to a recent Newcastle University report.

The study showed that all European cities are set to be hit harder by future extreme weather events. Worsening heatwaves were predicted while some of the worst overall flood projections will hit Ireland and the UK.

Dublin made it on to the list of capitals that are likely to experience the most extreme rise in flooding along with Helsinki, Riga, Vilnius and Zagreb.

Even more at risk than Dublin, it says, are Cork, Derry and Waterford, whose citizens should brace themselves for an 80% increases in peak river flows. Time to invest in some wellies...

FLOODING ACTION PLAN:

Flood incidents are covered under home insurance. Also take steps to reduce the chance of burst pipes in the home with better insulation and check any flood risk before buying a new property.

Ask for a quote based on the address of the home you are thinking of buying. If there are flooding issues, the quote will tell you how much it will cost you in extra insurance.

PYRITE

Cracks in a home you own or are thinking of buying could also be caused by pyrite.

And these cracks will be opened up by extreme weather patterns predicted for the future.

Pyrite is a defect in concrete and cement used in building between January 1997 and December 2013.

Over 10,000 homes completed in Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Offaly are known to have been affected by pyrite. But another 5,000 homes in Mayo and Donegal were also identisuck

fied last year as having been affected by either pyrite or muscovite mica, another mineral that causes cracks in concrete. The crisis is far from over with only 1,000 homes – less than one in ten – repaired under the State’s pyrite remediation scheme at the latest count. A further 600 are scheduled for repairs. The average cost is €70,000.

PYRITE ACTION PLAN:

Be particularly vigilant if buying a second-hand home built in Fingal, Donegal or parts of Meath built between 1997 and 2013. Pyrite damage is generally not covered by your home insurance. Contact the Pyrite Resolution Board – pyriteresolution.ie; Locall 1890 252842.

DODGY EXTENSIONS

Building laws are very strict now but in the past Ireland was cowboy country when it came to building extensions.

Extreme weather will expose any weaknesses as cracks and leaks let in moisture. Damp will also cause rot in wooden supports.

Many extensions also have flat roofs, which are notorious for leaks.

Insurers allow a certain percentage of your property to have a flat roof but they may not pay out for damage caused by natural deterioration of these shortlived structures.

DODGY EXTENSIONS ACTION PLAN:

Examine and repair any leaks or cracks in your extension. Your insurer may expect regular checking, maintenance and, where necessary, replacement of your flat roof.

DAMP

Wet conditions and frequent flooding will make any existing damp problems a whole lot worse.

Loosened slates and water ingress will cause rot in wooden supports and may structurally undermine your home. Most damp issues are not covered under home insurance.

DAMP ACTION PLAN:

Check your attic, ceilings and floors for water ingress. Softness or staining of wood may indicate that rotting is already underway.