Make an appointment Call now
Make an appointment Call now

Eaves: Maintenance and Inspection

Maintaining the integrity of your property's overhangs is crucial to prevent hidden wood rot and costly structural damage. Regular inspections and professional repairs not only safeguard your investment but ensure that any underlying issues, such as delamination or reinforcement corrosion, are addressed before they escalate.

An overhang is the overhanging portion of a roof, a floor, or a gutter construction.

  • We recommend checking the overhangs for wood rot. Any wood rot should be professionally repaired, after which the paintwork should be reapplied (in some areas).
    • Note: Wood rot can always be present in invisible places! Wood rot can also become visible when removing layers of paint.
    • Wood rot may have been professionally repaired in the past, or wood rot may have been deliberately hidden, either professionally or not.
    • Regular, expert, and proper maintenance is essential! Pay particular attention to connections, corners, and seams to ensure they are sealed and moisture cannot penetrate.
homekeur-boeibord-houtrot.png
  • Parts of the overhang's woodwork may delaminate. Delamination is the loss of cohesion between the layers of a multi-layered material. This can be caused by poor adhesion between the layers due to a manufacturing defect or a gradual loss of adhesion due to the effects of moisture or air on the adhesive, etc. Delamination of woodwork is irreparable; at some point, parts of the woodwork will need to be replaced.
  • Are there any defects in the installation or attachment of the overhangs (or the cladding)? Repairs can be made here.
  • If the original overhang is (fully or partially) clad with solid core or synthetic material, the materials behind these finishes cannot be assessed. If the material is NOT ventilated, there is no ventilation between the different materials. There is a high risk of condensation, resulting in damage to/wood rot of the underlying woodwork. If this is the case, we recommend removing the material cladding the overhang and reapplying it professionally (with rubber seals) and ventilating it, and/or restoring or restoring the overhang to its original appearance.
    • After removal of the folk or plastic material, defects in the underlying woodwork may become visible.

Concrete overhang

If the overhang is constructed as a prefabricated element in concrete (brick-like), reinforcement is most likely present in this overhang.

  • If this overhang also serves as a gutter, it goes without saying that it must function properly and be waterproof. More information about this type of concrete gutter and its potential defects and risks can be found here .
  • Mechanical damage can be easily repaired, but damage caused by rusting reinforcement is usually due to the stone material not being sufficiently waterproof. Once the damage becomes visible, it's usually too late.
  • If reinforcement rusts, it will also corrode (expand) and push away the concrete. The reinforcement can be damaged by moisture, for example. If the reinforcement becomes visible when removing loose pieces, it must also be coated (red lead) before carrying out the concrete repair .
homekeur-betonnen-goot.png

With such overhangs, it's important to carefully inspect the concrete surface on all sides. A very small, visually difficult-to-detect crack is often just the tip of the iceberg. Further investigation is necessary to determine the full extent of any concrete damage. This can be mapped by meticulously tapping the entire stone surface with a metal object.

Would you like to make an appointment for a building inspection?

The cost of a building inspection (up to 250 m²) is only €489 including VAT. We'll conduct a comprehensive building inspection and you'll receive a building report. Do you have any questions? We're happy to help and can schedule an appointment with an expert inspector right away if you wish!

Make an appointment

Recent articles

Een vrouw wijst naar een tablet die een man vasthoudt en een andere man kijkt mee
blog
13 February 2026
Hidden defects in a home
Hidden defects are not uncommon, especially in existing homes. They are often not immediately visible, but can have significant consequences for comfort, safety, and costs. This article explains how hidden defects are assessed and the role of investigation and inspection.
blazen plooien bitumen dak
video
13 February 2026
Common roof detail mistakes: what an inspection reveals
During roof inspections, problems often turn out to be not in the roofing itself, but in the details. In this practical case study, we demonstrate which installation errors are frequently encountered and why these, in particular, pose an increased risk of leaks and damage.
WhatsApp Image 2026-02-12 at 08.51.37
video
12 February 2026
Three Roof Eave Mistakes That Cause Leaks (And Are Often Overlooked)
Roof problems rarely arise suddenly. They usually start with a minor issue. In this inspection, we see how a torn lead flashing, improper installation, and a loose joint can all pose a serious risk. What should you look for—and how can you prevent them?

Back to list