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D&A logo, an oast house in the circle to the left and Dude&Arnette Oast Cowl Construction written on the right.
Main Menu
  • Oast Cowl
    • Oast cowl construction
    • Oast cowl painting
    • Oast cowl repair
    • Oast cowl cleaning
    • Oast cowl service
    • Kiln roof maintenance
    • Carpentry and joinery
    • Bespoke features fitted
    • Tudor Roof Tiles – Dude & Arnette’s Peg tile of choice
    • How it works
    • Gallery
  • Heritage Roofing
    • Roof build & repair
    • Kent peg tiles
  • About
    • About us
    • Careers
    • FAQs
    • What is an oast cowl?
    • What is an oast house?
    • Oast cowl styles
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  •  Contact
  • 07931 224 628
  • info@dudeandarnette.co.uk
  • 07931 224 628
  • info@dudeandarnette.co.uk

Five tips for getting your oast cowls ready for the year ahead

Get 2022 off to the best start by making sure that your oast house is ready for whatever the new year brings. Now that the festive season is done and dusted, it is time to get your oast house ready for the coming year. Good maintenance is essential to keep your oast house looking fabulous but it can also save you serious time, effort (and money!) in the long term. 

To make sure your oast cowls are looking their best this year: 

Check the paint

There is nothing nicer than a freshly painted bright white oast cowl. If yours is looking weatherbeaten and drab then it might be time for a refresh. This is especially important if the paint is starting to peel off. A repaint is not just about aesthetics, it can prevent costly repairs down the line. If you would like to know more about how we clean a cowl, take a look at our oast cowl cleaning tips for some valuable insights.

 

Listen out for strange squeaking sounds

Spend a little time listening to your oast cowl for any odd noises. If you hear any high-pitched squeaking noises, that’s your oast cowl crying out for some attention! Jokes aside, this can be a sign of something more serious so give us a call and we will come and take a look for you. 

Keep an ear out for banging noises

Banging is another sound of an oast cowl in despair. A banging noise should never be ignored. This must be checked as it could be damaging to the whole roof and the oast cowl. Basically, if it doesn't sound normal then it should not be ignored.

 

Check for holes

Get up close and personal with your oast cowl and see if you can spot anything that doesn't look quite right. If you see any holes then it might be time to get them down for a refurbishment as they can potentially become dangerous. Don’t be daunted by the thought of taking the oast cowl off, it is much simpler to refurb them once they are off the roof and as with most things prevention is always better than a cure (especially for your wallet!)

Malcolm Catmur Neame

 

Check that the oast is turning

An oast cowl needs to turn, that’s why it is there. So an oast cowl that is refusing to do a turn might be trying to tell you something. If you notice that your oast cowl is not moving, or not turning as and when you would expect then it is probably time to get us up there to figure out what is going on and to free it.  This is definitely something you should tackle sooner rather than later as if the oast cowl stops turning you may find that you start to get water in your home. If you want to learn more about why oast cowls were designed to turn in the wind, then check out our previous blog to get an insight into what is an oast house and how it works.

 

Don't wait until it's too late

To arrange a free quotation, or to discuss your individual requirements in more detail, visit our Contact Us page, or call us on 01622 725 898.

Have a question?

Do you have a question about our services or simply would like to arrange an appointment?

Get in touch

Our Latest Blog Posts

Black and white picture of three oast cowls on top of the house.

How Oast Houses Became One of Kent’s Most Iconic Buildings

Few buildings are as closely tied to the Kent countryside as the oast house. With their distinctive round kilns, white cowls and conical roofs, they ...
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Oast cowls are one of the most distinctive features of any oast house but they’re also one of the hardest working. Constantly exposed to wind ...
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Oast House Variations Explained

Oast houses are one of the most distinctive and recognisable features of the Kent countryside. Instantly identified by their conical roofs and cowls, these historic ...
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Kent Countryside Pubs: Hidden Gems

The Kent countryside is famous for its rolling hills, historic villages, and, of course, its traditional pubs. While well-known spots like The Sportsman in Seasalter ...
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The future of sustainable construction

As time goes on and as climate change becomes increasingly pressing, there is a growing want for more sustainable practices in every aspect, including in ...
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Exploring the Best Christmas Markets in the Kent Countryside

We’re in full swing of the Christmas festivities here at Dude & Arnette, so we thought we’d share with you some of the best Christmas ...
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Wishing everyone a very happy n' spooky old day!🎃 Wishing everyone a very happy n' spooky old day!🎃 

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Our latest blog post is all about Tudor buildings. Our latest blog post is all about Tudor buildings...

We list our top 5 Tudor buildings to visit in Kent & Surrey, so if you're in the mood for some history or sight-seeing, be sure to check it out in our bio!

#TudorBuildings #Heritage #Kent #Sussex

Dude & Arnette

Dude and Arnette are the UK’s market leader for oast cowl manufacturing, restoration and repairs. We have been the go-to family business for oast house owners for over seven decades.

Dude and Arnette
The Clockhouse, North Pole Road,
Barming, Maidstone,
Kent
ME16 9HH

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