Water damage is one of the most common and costly problems for homeowners. As with most home maintenance, it’s almost always cheaper to prep your home before the damage occurs than to repair it after the fact. Here are three things you can do to prevent needing water damage restoration.
Caulk the Cracks
Damp, musty, or moldy smells in your home can signal water damage. One of the simplest ways to prevent this from happening is by caulking those cracks. For this project, you will need a caulking gun and caulk. It should only take about an hour, depending on the size of your home. Make sure the seal cracks around doors and windows to eliminate potential leaks. Even if the crack doesn’t seem that big, fill it in! On the inside of your home, you can look for the tell-tale signs of water leakage by inspecting for mold, bubbled paint, or even termite damage. For the price of a tube of caulking, you can help protect your home from unwanted and costly damage. It can also save you money on that energy bill by blocking potential drafts.
Spread the Soil
Home Foundations 101 will tell you that the ground adjacent to your home should incline, not decline, as it nears your foundation wall. Unless you want pooled water around the foundation of the house, make sure the ground does not decline. For those areas that experience increased rates of snow or rainfall, this is especially important. If you do encounter pooled water near the foundation, make sure it hasn’t begun to seep through into the basement.
Regrading your soil could range from a couple hundred dollars to thousands, depending on the size of the house and much soil is required. A low-cost solution to preventing water seepage is to simply grab a rake and move the soil around so that it creates a downward slope of at least 5 percent for the first 10 feet. The farther the slope, the better your house is protected.
Inspect the Roof and Gutters
A non-weather-tight roof welcomes water leakage and damage into your home. With some shingles, nails, and a hammer, you can inspect your roof for any broken, missing, or cracked shingles. It is best to take care of any roof problems before they happen, especially if you expect snow. Melting snow will find its way into the smallest cracks and begin to damage your roof before you realize it.
Gutters are a great tool for moving water away from your foundation, but they can’t do their job if they are clogged with leaves and debris. They become a major cause for water damage when water overflows and corrodes the soil around your home. Clean those gutters and downspouts at least once to twice a year. Winter can cause ice dams to build up as well, increasing your home’s chance of water damage.
Ask for Help
Take the time to perform these 3 simple measures to prevent water damage. Make sure you protect your home from any water damage. Call a professional at Extreme Carpet Care today for more information on water damage restoration.
