April showers brings May… water damage. Or it will if you’re not careful with your home. Spring not only brings excess precipitation in the weather, but snow is melting which makes for a lot of extra moisture around your home (hopefully not inside).
In Calgary, we’re pretty lucky with chinooks that we don’t have snow leftover really anywhere in the limits. But some homes in rural areas or in the mountains will still have snow to worry about. This article in Global News outlines the dangers of water damage when warmer weather follows winter:
“If we don’t clear our own down spouts and stuff like that the water’s got no place to go,” he said. “It’ll back up the spout and inside the roof and you’ll have water damage almost anywhere in the house.”
To protect your home from potential flooding or water damage, here’s some tips for protecting your home from rain:
Check your foundation: do a check of your foundation to ensure there’s no holes or cracks that need to be sealed.
Check exterior paint: heavy rain can be damaging to exterior paint, check to ensure there’s no bubbles or cracks in the paint, and repair if necessary.
Check your gutters: make sure your gutters are clear and that your downspouts are facing away from the home.
Check your basement: do a walk around your basement and check for any moist spots, which could be the result of existing problem areas and water damage.
Check your roof: missing shingles or damaged roofs are problem areas when it rains, and you’ll want to repair damage on the roof before interior damage occurs.
If you’re looking for more tips on rain-proofing your home, check out this article on BrightNest.
