How to Prevent Rainwater Damage to Your Home

Water damage is one of the most distressing things that can happen to a homeowner. It may be a nasty, creeping issue that many people are unaware of until it has become a large, costly one.At its worst, moisture can cause irreparable damage to your house, with severe structural results such as mold, wood rot, and even foundation cracks. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch it early and be able to put a stop to it before it spreads. However, even minor ruptures that let rainwater into the property might necessitate significant repairs such as dry rot to keep moisture at bay.

​The easiest approach to deal with water damage is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Here are some precautions you may take to keep water from entering your home from the outside.

​1. KEEP GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS CLEAN
2. INSPECT THE WALL AIR CONDITIONERS
3. THINK ABOUT SEALING YOUR ROOF DECK
4. MAINTENANCE OF YOUR ROOF
5. INSULATE WINDOWS AND DOORS
6. MAINTAIN THE EXTERIOR FINISH OF YOUR HOME
7. ENSURE PROPER DRAINAGE

1. Gutter and downspout cleaning should be done twice a year, ideally in the spring and autumn, to avoid blockages that can cause water damage to your roof.It is essential to ensure that your gutters are functioning correctly to safeguard your house from water damage. If your gutters are clogged with leaves and pine needles, or if they are not correctly oriented to direct water to the downspout, water will flow down the side of your home and accumulate at the base, putting your foundation in danger.

Clear Out Your Gutters:
To keep leaves from clogging gutters, keep trees trimmed and away from the roof.

Begin by cleaning up the muck that has accumulated in your gutters. If your gutters are too high to reach with an extension ladder, you might consider hiring a professional to clean them. If you can get to them, this is a simple task you can do on your own. Begin near the downspout, digging out the sludge with your hand or a plastic gutter scoop. Once the gutters have been cleaned of debris, clean them with a power washer.

Adjust the gutters so that they gradually slope toward the downspout, enabling water to drain.

Examine Your Downspouts:
Working gutters discharge water via the downspout, which should direct the water away from your house. Repair gutters and downspouts as needed.
If the downspout does not reach far enough, water may be funneled straight into a puddle at the base of your home.

To prevent water from collecting at the foundation or entering the basement, ensure that downspouts direct water away from the structure.

Downspouts should be two to three feet away from the house. The length of the downspout extension you need, on the other hand, is determined by your home and the surrounding land.

Check that the internal drain pipe is of proper size and that water is flowing smoothly.Make sure the unit is appropriately caulked and weather-stripped.

Assemble the device with a 1/4-inch (2-degree) bubble tilt toward the exterior.

3. High winds can rip the covering off your roof, enabling rain to soak through the cracks in the wood and into your attic and walls.

The sealing of your roof deck can prevent up to 95% of this sort of water intrusion.

4. The primary function of your roof is to keep water out of your home.

Neglecting it may result in a slew of issues, the most serious of which is severe water damage that could jeopardize the structural integrity of your house.

Most roofs have a lifetime of 20 to 30 years, so it’s natural to believe that if yours is still usable, it’s OK. However, this is not always the case.

Roof shingles may be damaged by the climate, weather, and even adjacent trees.

Inspect your roof regularly for damaged, loose, or missing shingles. Replacing any missing or damaged shingles is a cheap and straightforward job that may prolong the life of your whole roof.

Water leaking is most prevalent around windows and doors.If the area surrounding the window and door frames is not adequately sealed, water may leak in. Don’t sit around waiting for a leak. Make sure the weatherstripping and seals around your windows and doors are in excellent working order.

Examine the outside of your windows and doors.

Insulating foam sealant may be injected into any significant gaps between the frame and the home.

Apply a new bead of caulking where the window meets the siding to prevent further leaks.

A fresh coat of paint on window and door frames may also keep moisture out of the wood.

Water entering via cracks in your external walls may cause signs of water damage on your house’s internal walls that don’t seem to have a source, such as mildew, peeling paint, or discoloration.Water may be seeping into your home if your siding and outside paint aren’t properly maintained.

Inspect your external walls regularly.

Examine your siding for indications of deterioration, such as holes, wood rot, or warping.

If you catch it early enough, you may be able to wipe out the wet materials and replace the damaged siding.

Most typical exterior siding, such as stucco, aluminum siding, wood siding, and cedar shingles, must be painted to preserve your house effectively. Paint does more than improve the appearance of your siding; it also seals and protects it against rain, sleet, and snow.

Waterproofing is one method for keeping water out of your house, but it is insufficient to safeguard your home against water damage.Your foundation may be jeopardized if water is not correctly directed away from the base of your home.

Even the finest waterproofing techniques are ineffective against standing water accumulating on or around your home in regions with inadequate drainage.

Of course, rain isn’t the only source of water damage. Leaking pipes and valves within your house may create issues equally as serious as rainwater infiltration, but the security of your property starts on the outside. Check that your roof, exterior walls, gutters, and landscaping are all functioning correctly to keep your house high and dry.KV construction LLC siding contractors have over 20 years of experience exterior home improvement in Pacific Northwest residential and commercial properties. Years of experience and knowledge allow us to recommend the best siding for rainy PNW to ensure your home stays warm inside and your family is protected and cozy in your home.