A How-To Guide for Preventing Water Damage to Your Property

Rainy days are perfect for lounging around and hearing the soothing drip-drop of raindrops.

Unfortunately, if your property isn’t properly protected from the elements, the peacefulness of the rain may stop at your ears. Avoid a costly headache by preventing water damage to your property with these handy tips…

Inspect Your Building’s Foundation

It’s best to think of the foundation as the bones of your home or office – it supports the entire structure. Inspecting your foundation for cracks, holes, and other blemishes is the first step in preventing water leakage, which, as we all know, can lead to flooding, mold, and other serious damage. Make sure to walk the perimeter of your foundation (on the inside and outside) every season, and take note of any potential problem areas.

Inspect Your Basement

Your basement needs regular inspections as well, especially during and after rain showers. Follow these steps as you inspect your basement:

• Check for Wet Spots on Carpet, Flooring & Corners:If water is present, try to determine the source of the water.
• Sniff the Walls:This might sound silly, but if you detect a musty smell, mold or mildew could be the culprit. Mold causes serious health problems for both people and pets.  If mold or mildew is a concern, contact a mold remediation professional right away.
• Turn off the Lights:Use a flashlight to investigate cracks and crevices that might not be easily visible. You may even need a ladder to inspect hard-to-reach areas. Safety tip: Remember to always keep three points of contact when using a ladder!

Inspect Your Roof & Attic

Roofs that are missing shingles or have worn out materials, are at great risk for water damage.With every rainfall, water seeps into the unprotected areas of your roof, damaging the structure. You should inspect your roof twice a year, and after any type of severe weather or storm. If you have an attic, inspect the underside of the plywood (beneath the roof) for key signs of water penetration such as watermarks or mold.

Touch up Exterior Paint

Wet weather conditions take a serious toll on exterior paint jobs. As you’re inspecting your foundation, pay attention to the status of your exterior paint – is the paint bubbling, cracking, or peeling?  If you find any of these issues, touch up the area(s) as soon as possible.

Clean Your Home’s Gutters

Since dirt and debris easily clog gutters (and we don’t especially love cleaning them out regularly), water backup is all too common. It is important that you learn how to regularly (and properly) clean your gutters, so you don’t run into the following issues:

• Rotted Boards & Windowsills
• Water Leakage
• Flooded Basements
• Water Seepage into Foundations

Re-Direct Your Gutter Downspouts

Next time it rains, slip on your rain boots and take a look at your downspouts. If the water is pooling less than five feet away from your home, re-direct it with gutter extensions as soon as possible to prevent water damage and flooding. Regular downspout maintenance, cleaning, and repairs are fairly quick and affordable tasks that can save you big in the long run!

If your structure does seem to have water damage that needs restoration, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (314) 227-3932.

About Woodard Cleaning & Restoration

Woodard Cleaning & Restoration was founded in 1946 by Earl and Nancy Woodard. Today, the company is run by 3rd generation, Justin Woodard. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Woodard services the greater metro area (Illinois, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, St. Louis County, and many more). Woodard is proud to serve as the preferred provider for cleaning & restoration services. Our cleaning services include carpet, hard surface, furniture, and rug cleaning for both residential and commercial properties. We also provide water, fire, board-up, storm and smoke restoration services for residential and commercial clients. For for information or questions submit a form online or call us at (314) 227-3932.

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