Defending your home from water damage

The flood season may be over but water damage can still occur in any property. Damp may have collected behind walls or floorboards or you may have a leaking roof. Water damage doesn’t have to be a result of immediate and large calamities. Sometimes it is caused by a slight accumulation of water. The results can be small or large scaled. There are a few things you can do to defend your home from accumulating water.

1. Take care of your foundation
Rising damp usually occurs due to a wet and weak foundation. Having a home situated at the top of a slop is beneficial as the water is less likely to reach it. If you have a basement, it is important to regularly check it for water damage and damp. The basement is most likely to suffer from water damage and mould because it is situated at the bottom of the house. Try and keep the basement as dry as possible and call for professional help if it is needed. They are more likely to accurately detect damp and water damage and can deal with the problem effectively.

2. Attend to the top of the house
The top of your house is equally important as the bottom. Roofs are the main location for leaks due to heavy rain and it is important to constantly inspect it. A roof with a leak can cause a lot of damage to a property over time. It can soak ceilings and get behind walls and weaken infrastructure. Damp can also lead to the presence of mould which is a great health hazard. A loft or attic needs to be well insulated and accumulating water damage can cause this insulation to be soaked. Further down the line, this can lead to rot and mould. It is important to repair the roof and to replace any sodden insulation to ensure your property remains dry. If you are unsure, it is always a good idea to seek professional help in order to find undetected leaks.

3. Inspect gutters
It might me a mundane task but gutters need to be kept clean and maintained to make sure that they are draining properly. If there are any gutter leaks, they need to be repaired immediately. Any clogs of debris should be removed and any excess water should be directed in a way that it does not come in contact with the foundation of your home.

During the process of inspecting and repairing any damage caused by water and damp, it is helpful to keep an account of anything that has been damaged, particularly in the case of flood damage. Keeping copies can be of great help when processing an insurance claim.

To find out more, feel free to call us on 0800 195 9878