Rainwater Damage

6/24/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage can cause big problems for homeowners. It can be a sneaky issue that many people don’t discover until it has become a big, expensive problem.

Water has the potential to damage your home beyond affordable repair, with heavy structural consequences that include mold, wood rot, and even foundation cracks. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch it early and stop it before it spreads. But even small leaks that allow rainwater into the house can cause major problems.

The best way to deal with water damage is to stop it before it starts. Here are some measures that you can take to prevent water from entering your home from outside.

House Exterior

The exterior of your house is its first line of defense against water damage. Protect your home from the outside in by maintaining the exterior.

Roof

Your roof should keep water out of your house. Neglecting it could lead to a whole host of problems, the worst of which includes extensive water damage that could compromise the structure of your home. Most roofs have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, but that is no guarantee that it will last that long. Climate, weather conditions, and even nearby trees can cause damage to roof shingles. Periodically check for damaged, loose, or missing shingles.

Windows and Doors

Water can seep in through the space around window and door frames if they’re not properly sealed. Don’t wait for a leak. Inspect the outside of your windows and doors. Any large cracks between the frame and the house can be injected with insulating foam sealant. A fresh coat of paint on window and door frames can block moisture from penetrating the wood.

Proper Drainage

You can take measures to keep water out of your home, but waterproofing alone isn’t enough to protect your home from water damage. If water isn’t properly diverted away from the base of your house, your foundation could be at risk. And even the best waterproofing measures are no match for standing water that collects on or around your house in areas of poor drainage.

Gutters

Depending on surrounding tree coverage, gutters need to be cleaned out two to six times a year to ensure proper flow of rainwater.Making sure your gutters function properly is critical to protecting your home from water damage. If your gutters are full of leaves and pine needles, or not angled properly to funnel water to the downspout, then water will run down the side of your house and collect at the base, which could put your foundation at risk.

Check Your Downspouts

Downspouts should direct water at least three feet from the exterior walls of a home.Gutters send water out through the downspout, which should funnel the water away from your home. If the downspout doesn’t extend far enough, then it could instead be funneling water directly into a puddle at the bottom of your house.Downspouts should extend at least two to three feet from the house. If your downspout is long enough, but you can still see water collecting at the base of your house, then you may need to install a drainage pipe.

If you suspect water damage in your home or business contact us today. SERVPRO of Bloomington/Pontiac   309-827-7500