Your home’s exterior requires regular care and maintenance to protect against moisture intrusion. Inspecting for water damage, ensuring proper drainage, and adding a French drain can all help prevent costly repairs. Leaks, peeling paint, and discoloration are all signs of an insufficient waterproofing system. Follow these tips to help your property ward off water damage:
Gutters
Gutters are designed to divert rainwater and melted snow away from the siding and foundation of your home. When gutters are clogged, they cause water to cascade down the sides of your house and onto the soil around the foundation. It saturates the ground and causes cracking and shifting over time. Wet foundation walls are also a perfect environment for mold, mildew and pests to thrive.
Standing water around your home is a sign of gutter malfunction and can lead to serious problems like flooding, basement issues, leaning chimneys, wall damage and foundation problems. It can also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests. Gutter systems are designed to drain water down the roof and into a drainage system or floor where the soil can easily absorb it. When gutters are clogged, these functions are hindered, so they must be regularly cleaned to prevent these problems. Maintenance can be easy with the help of gutter companies Salem that can install a gutter guard system, allowing a seamless transition between the gutter and your roof.
Siding
Siding does a great job keeping massive amounts of rainwater off your home. However, like any other surface, it can be damaged by the elements. Rain gutters can become clogged and fail to channel water away from the home, creating the perfect opportunity for moisture to seep behind your siding. Moisture that gets under your siding can wreak havoc on the sheathing, wood framing, basement and foundation. Mold, mildew and rot are sure to follow if left unchecked. You can often spot moisture damage by noticing brown and black spots on the exterior of your home. These discolorations are caused by wood rot, algae, fungus and lichens, which all thrive in wet environments. These growths will eventually break down the siding and sheathing, causing costly structural problems to the house.
Windows
One of the biggest causes of water damage to homes is windows. If they aren’t properly flashed and sealed, the elements can leak in and cause damage throughout the house. Window flashing must be properly installed, and the pieces must be layered correctly. Without it, the window can experience moisture intrusion, leading to wood rot. In new construction, builders must properly seal and flash windows so they don’t become a problem for homeowners after the build is completed. Leaky windows are a common homeowner headache, and it’s not always easy to spot the source of the leak. The best thing you can do is inspect the caulking and weatherstripping around your windows regularly and ensure they are in good shape. If they aren’t, re-caulking is an affordable, fast, and simple project that takes less than an hour (including drying time). The result will be more comfortable living and protecting your valuable home.
Foundation
Standing water at a foundation is difficult, as it penetrates the porous concrete structure and causes deterioration over time. It can lead to cracks and shifting of the foundation, resulting in costly repairs. If rainwater accumulates around your home, it can damage the soil and create problems such as basement flooding, mold growth, structural damage, and electrical hazards. Investing in effective preventative strategies is the best way to minimize these problems. Maintaining proper gutter and downspout function is one of the most important steps to protect your foundation from water damage. It is also critical to have a well-functioning drainage system that diverts water away from the foundation. If you do find that your foundation is damaged, there are two different repair options. One is slab jacking, which involves drilling holes into the foundation and inserting steel piers that add stability. The other is a more extensive process that requires the removal of the existing foundation and replacing it with a new concrete foundation.