Repairs, windows & carpentry guides

Most repair jobs in a Cyprus home come back to water, sun or salt. Winter rain finds cracked render and tired terrace waterproofing, condensation turns cold concrete walls mouldy, and years of strong sun dry out the silicone and rubber seals around aluminium windows. Locks, hinges and wooden doors wear faster in coastal air.

Where you live changes what to look for. Seafront flats in Larnaca and Limassol live with humid, salty air that corrodes fittings and frames. Nicosia, inland, has hotter summers and colder winter nights, and the flat roofs on many older houses need checking before the rains. In Paphos, holiday homes and hillside villas often stand empty through the winter, which is when leaks and damp go unnoticed.

These guides explain what causes each problem, what you can safely check or fix yourself, and which trade to ask when you can't: a handyman for seals, small plaster and paint repairs, a carpenter for doors and fitted furniture, an aluminium installer for frames and glazing, and a locksmith for locks. Start with mould and damp, then the checklist for before the first rains. Each guide ends with what to include when you describe the job, so a pro can judge it before visiting.

Written by The Ergo team