Watching For Water Damage Outside Of The Home

When thinking of water damage affecting your home, problems stemming from inside the home may come to mind first. It’s common knowledge that there are several things inside your home that can cause water damage, such as leaky pipes, faulty appliances, and common accidents like an overflowing bathtub. However, there are problems outside your home that can infiltrate the inside. Our homes are supposed to protect us from the elements such as rain and snow, but if it is improperly sealed or insulated, this water can make it inside and cause problems. 

Water Damage Cleanup – Greensboro

Keeping an eye out for problems outside of the home can ensure that you are protected when bad weather hits. Water damage can hit hard and be very costly to repair, so it’s important to try and prevent it as much as possible. This article will go over each place on the outside of your home that can risk water damage. 

The Roof

The roof over the home is meant to keep elements out, so it needs to be kept up with maintenance as much as possible to keep yourself and anything inside protected. A leaking roof can lead to water damage in the ceiling and attic and can go unnoticed for a time. To prevent an issue from getting worse, watch for a few key signs that your roof is in need of repairs. 

Water spots or mold growth on your ceiling is a clear indicator that water is dripping behind it somewhere, typically a leaky roof. If the roof has any visible damage such as missing or cracked shingles, or missing or damaged flashing, water is coming through those avenues. Moreover, water spots or wet roof decking in the attic is a sign of a damaged roof as well. 

Gutters

Gutters are a huge preventative component outside of houses, as they are made to steer rainwater off the roof and away from your home. This measure cannot be used, however, if the gutters are clogged with debris. You will need to clean them out often, at least twice a year depending on the amount of wind and foliage around your property. Make sure that before a storm hits that the gutters are completely free of blockage. Additionally, it is important that the downspouts are faced in the right direction, steering the water away from your home. The gutter’s efforts are fruitless if the downspouts are not also doing the job they were designed for

Seal Leaks

Any crack or hole present in the home can let in water, no matter how big or small. Before a storm rolls around, go around your home and look at all the doors, windows, floors, ceilings, and the roof to see if there are any imperfections that could potentially let water in. Most cracks or holes can be filled with different types of caulk or sealant that are designated for that specific problem. If you are able to look at the foundation of your home and you find any cracks, you can fill those with concrete patching. 

If any of these problems are occurring at your home, there is bound to be water damage nearby. Water damage can affect the structural integrity of your home, the belongings in the home, and the health of everyone exposed to it. It’s important to take steps to remove water damage as soon as it is noticed. Unfortunately, the water damage removal process is a long and arduous one that many are not equipped to handle. Because of that, professionals at Restoration 1 are readily available to help whenever there are problems in your home.