LITTLE ROCK — With wet winter and spring approaching, even though I feel confident with a brand-new roof overhead, I still worry about water damage to my house from other avenues. How can I best protect my home from water damage?
“Just because you have a new roof, do not assume that sources of overhead leakage are no longer present,” warns Tim Hennelly, owner of Casa Buena House Inspections of Little Rock. “There are a few areas that you will want to periodically check during the fall through spring months. If left unattended, they could turn out to be potential leak sources.”
Make sure that leaves and debris do not collect in roof valleys, Hennelly advises. These materials can quickly break down under wet conditions and block the flow of water in the valley and if enough water backs up, it can get under the shingles and cause leaks.
“Another potential leak source is gutters which become filled with debris or are improperly sloped,” Hennelly says. “Consider installing gutter guards or gutter screens to reduce debris buildup and once you have the gutters cleaned and properly sloped, make sure that any unsealed gutter joints and end caps are properly sealed.”
Also be sure to check the downspouts. If they discharge right next to the house, consider installing splash blocks or downspout extensions to prevent erosion and ensure that the water discharges farther from the house.
For downspouts connected to a subsurface drain pipe, Hennelly recommends checking the pipe annually to ensure it is free of debris and drains properly.
“The simplest way to do this is to disconnect the downspout elbow and remove it from the drain pipe, insert a garden hose several feet into the pipe and fully open its hose faucet and check the discharge end of the drain pipe to make sure water is flowing from it,” he says. Once debris is flushed from the pipe, reconnect the downspout elbow.
If discharge is very slow or it is clogged, install a pressure nozzle on the hose and work the hose farther into the pipe which will usually dislodge any built-up debris, Hennelly says, adding that the same procedure can also be used on drainage pipes from any surface yard drains.
“If your house doesn’t have gutters but you have a deck or patio, I strongly suggest that you consider installing gutters above these areas,” Hennelly says. “Water draining from the roof lands on these surfaces and then back splashes against the house. The back splashing water generally travels horizontally and under greater force than when it drained off the roof and can enter any unsealed gaps around doors and on the siding and cause wood rot.”
Weather extremes, such as last summer’s drought, can have a detrimental effect on exterior caulk and paint conditions, allowing water to seep into unwanted areas, Hennelly says. Exterior caulking should be inspected annually with a visual check of pipe and cable entrances along exterior walls, corners, window edges and trim joints to ensure that caulk has not loosened or that gaps have not opened, he added. If any openings or loose caulk are present, clean out loose caulking and apply fresh caulk.
Any cracks in exterior brick or block walls should also be sealed, Hennelly advises. Sealing the cracks with a flexible silicone type caulk will prevent potential water entry. The flexible sealant will stretch with any typical expansion and contraction the brick undergoes but if the flexible sealant pulls apart and separates from the brick or block crack, it may be an indication that something more than typical settlement is occurring.
“Lastly, make sure that surface water drains away from the house and that a positive grade sloping away from the house is present,” Hennelly concludes. “Built-up mulch levels create a negative drainage slope and are one of the biggest culprits for trapping surface water against the house foundation.”
Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Caillouet, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or e-mail:
HomeStyle, Pages 35 on 12/08/2012