Few things are as stressful to homeowners as water damage. It can be a sinister, creeping issue that many don’t discover until it has become a big, expensive problem.

At its worst, moisture has the potential to damage your home beyond affordable repair, with heavy structural consequences that include mold, wood rot, and even foundation cracks. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch it early and stop it before it spreads. But even small leaks that allow rainwater into the house can require major repairs to keep moisture at bay.

The best way to deal with water damage is to stop it before it starts. Here are measures that you can take to prevent water from entering your home from outside.

Waterproof Your House Exterior

The exterior of your house is its first line of defense against water damage. Protect your home from the outside in by maintaining the exterior.

Maintain Your Roof

Your roof’s primary purpose is to keep water out of your house. Neglecting it could lead to a whole host of problems, the worst of which includes extensive water damage that could compromise the structure of your home. Most roofs have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, so it’s easy to think that if yours is still within its period of usability, it’s fine. But that’s not necessarily true.

Climate, weather conditions, and even nearby trees can cause damage to roof shingles. Periodically inspect your roof for damaged, loose, or missing shingles. Replacing any shingles that are missing or in poor condition is a quick and inexpensive project that can extend the life of your entire roof.

Clean Your Gutters

Making sure your gutters function properly is critical to protecting your home from water damage. If your gutters are full of leaves and pine needles, or not angled properly to funnel water to the downspout, then water will run down the side of your house and collect at the base, which could put your foundation at risk.

Start by clearing built-up gunk from your gutters. If your gutters are too high to reach with an extension ladder, you may want to hire a professional. If you can reach them, then this is a job you can easily do yourself. Begin near the downspout, using your hand or a plastic gutter scoop to dig out the muck. Once gutters are cleared of obstructions, use a pressure washer to clean them.

Source: HOMETIPS