Crossans Shopfronts - Care & Repair

Simple repairs
Many simple repair jobs can be carried out to extend life of the shopfront.

1. The flashing over the cornice prevents water getting behind the woodwork. The flashing is usually lead or bitumen felt. Bitumen should be used for repairing joints m lead or felt sheets. Three-layer bitumen felt has a life of only 20 years: when it decays call in experts.

2. The caps over the brackets (little roofs) must be kept watertight or the brackets will rot. This rot usually begins at the joints on top and then works through the centre. Normally, it is not noticeable until the damage is extensive.

3. Putty filling in woodwork eventually dries out and lets in water. Crevices should be plugged with fresh, readymixed, exterior filler.

4. Woodworm should be eradicated by using a proprietary band of wood preservative.

5. Guard against a heavy build-up of paint which can hide a multitude of ills, especially structural problems.

6. Paint blisters should be cut out with a knife, sanded flat, primed, undercoated and painted.

7. Flaking paint due to age should be removed, sanded, primed, undercoated and painted.

Shopfront Maintenance