With the recent span of severe storms that have affected the Triangle area, we’ve been getting quite a few calls related to storm damage. Unfortunately, our company doesn’t directly handle repair/insurance oriented jobs, nevertheless a number of the related inquired items could have been addressed prior to the storms, and may have prevented the damage altogether. At Prince & Sons, we do our best to always be honest and straightforward with our clients about ways they can ensure that their home is properly protected. Read on to learn a few preventative steps to help avoid costly damage due to severe weather as well as some common non-storm related tips.
Ways to Prevent Costly Storm Damage
Below are several ways that you can reduce the likelihood that your home will be affected by severe weather and water damage. While one can never be 100% confident that their property won’t be affected, there are several steps you can take to minimize the risk of damage to your home.
- Trim Trees Around Your Home – Take a walk around your property and take note of any trees or limbs that are hanging over your property. Also look at all the trees on your property to see if any appear to be dead or dying. It’s best to have tree work done prior to a storm, because once a storm hits, you’ll likely pay a premium for any work that needs to be done. In addition, after a storm you’ll likely have difficulty scheduling a tree company to perform the work in a speedy timeframe.
- Keep an Eye on Your Gutters & Downspouts – Be sure to keep your gutters and downspouts free of debris. If you notice water leaking at your gutter seams, be sure to reseal or replace them as soon as possible. Gutters are one of the more affordable parts of your home, but are vitally important to maintaining the integrity of your home.
- Divert Water Away From Your Foundation – While gutters and downspouts help to divert water away from your foundation, it is highly recommended to attach corrugated pipe to the end of your downspouts to decrease the chance of any water seeping into the crawlspace. It is also important that the dirt around your home is graded in such a way to channel water away from your home and doesn’t pool anywhere near the foundation.
- Install Automatic Shut Off Systems – Many people don’t know that there is a relatively inexpensive fail-safe product on the market that will automatically shut off water lines that leak. These systems are installed on water supply lines that feed appliances and fixtures in your home such as your water heater, sink, washing machine or ice maker line and have shutoff valves that automatically turn off the flow of water when the sensory pads sense moisture. The upfront cost of approximately $350 (installed) could save you thousands of dollars down the road.
- Regularly Inspect Your House – At least once per year take a walk around your home to take note of any areas that need to be addressed. It’s important to do both an exterior and interior inspection to ensure you spot small issues before they become big problems.
- Keep Leaves Off Your Deck – Keep your deck and front porches free of leaves and other debris to prevent wood rot, staining, and pest infestation.
- Crawlspace Maintenance – While a sealed crawlspace is the best option for a clean, water-free, and toxic-free environment, having a consistent vapor barrier installed on the ground of your crawlspace may prevent moisture issues and increase the longevity of your home.
- Watch Out for Water Stains – If you start to notice water stains on your ceiling, or around windows in your home, it’s important to address the issue immediately. Water penetration is never a good thing and if not properly addressed, you could be dealing with massive water damage in the near future.
Interested in Home Renovation Help Due to Storm Damage?
While our company does not directly manage repair/insurance oriented jobs, we will take the work on if it is a part of a larger scaled renovation. If you’ve experienced storm damage recently and are in the market for a whole home renovation and need help from a licensed general contractor, feel free to give the team at Prince & Sons a call today. We’ll be happy to come out to your home and take a look at your situation to determine if we could be of assistance to you in this time of need. Give us a call anytime at 919-383-0888, or send us an email using our online contact form.
