While summer is a time for fun, Mother Nature can also pack a punch with strong damaging weather. Sometimes that damage may go un-noticed. Here are some things to check out.
What To Check On Your Home After A Storm
Summer storms can damage your home and you may not even know it!
By Lou Manfredini, Ace’s Home expert.
If you have a home with a basement, check around the foundation line for signs of leaking. A small crack in the foundation especially behind finished walls can lead to mildew and mold problems. If you find waterlogged drywall or insultation that needs to be removed and thrown out and eventually replaced once the crack is repaired.
Run a test of your Sump pump if you have one to ensure it is working properly.
Walk around your home on the outside and look for missing shingles on the roof. Also pay close attention to flashing details around chimney’s, valleys, and skylights if your home has them. Many times, roof leaks are caused by flashing failures.
Around the bottom of your home where it meets the soil look for signs of water pooling. If water pools next to the foundation that is a recipe for leaking and you should try and add more soil and pitch it away from the house. (Just make sure you do not add too much soil that it goes above the foundation line where it meets the construction of the home)
Loose siding, trim and gutters may also need to be repaired to keep the envelope of your home safe and dry.
Gutters and downspouts can become clogged after severe storms so make sure to inspect and clean as necessary.
If the storms caused washout in your yard, make sure that is removed and re-pitched properly to avoid channeling water towards your home.
Published 6/28/21
These “How-To’s” are provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in Ace Hardware’s “how-to” videos and/or articles is intended to provide general guidelines for projects in and outside of your home. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes, local regulations are continually changing. Ace Hardware assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein and disclaims any liability for the omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. It is the responsibility of the viewer to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations for a project and the product being used. The viewer must always take proper safety precautions and exercise caution when taking on any project or using materials of said project. If you have any questions, concerns or doubts in regards to any element of what is displayed in the videos and/or articles, contact a licensed professional.
