Spring Cleaning Checklist To Avoid Water Damage

It is finally starting to feel like spring all around Hyde Park, and with spring comes a list of things that need cleaned and organized. Sierra Restoration wants to be sure that you don’t overlook some important ‘spring cleaning’ items that should be done outside your home to help safeguard it from potential water damage from spring rain. Here are some things you should add to your to-do list this spring:

Water Damage In Hyde Park

• Maintain your roof: Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against Mother Nature’s rainfall and spring storms. Its primary purpose is to keep water out of your home, and channel it away from your home’s foundation (through gutters and downspouts). Neglecting your roof could leave your home susceptible to unnecessary water damage every time it rains, compromising the very structure and integrity of your home. Most roofs are built to last 20-30 years, but failing to perform regular inspection and routine maintenance can greatly shorten that lifespan. You should periodically inspect your roof for damaged, loose, or missing shingles and replace any that you find. 
• Be sure windows and doors are adequately sealed: Windows and doors are common vulnerable sites for water leakage into the home. Water can easily seep in through the space around windows and door frames if they are not properly sealed. You should check the weather-stripping and seals periodically to ensure that they are in- tact. It is important to check both the inside and outside of your windows and doors. Any large cracks or spaces between the frame and your home should be sealed off. A good practice is to reapply caulking at least once a year to ensure that no water or moisture is getting through into your home. 

• Ensure proper drainage: If water from rainfall is not properly diverted away from the foundation of your home, you are at an increased risk of water damage and flooding. When excess water collects around the base of your home due to poor drainage, that water will begin to seep in through your foundation. Gutters are essential in channeling the water from off of your roof, and away from your home. Be sure that your gutters are clean and clear from any built up debris so that water can flow through them freely. Functioning gutters will direct water out and away from your home through downspouts. Downspouts should direct the water at least 3 feet from the exterior walls of your home. If your downspouts are broken, cracked, or do not extend far enough, they could be channeling water directly to your home’s foundation. You should check your gutters and downspouts at the end of winter and beginning of spring, and again every fall to ensure that they are functioning correctly. 

It is so important to prepare your home for spring weather, especially following winter weather. Water damage can wreak havoc on your home, so it is a good idea to take all the necessary steps to prevent it this spring.