I never knew the extent of damage that hail could cause to a home. Of course, I realized that windows could break, but I never imagined my roof getting damaged, the siding getting destroyed and the gutters nearly being taken off the side of the house. After our neighborhood was hit by a storm that included golf-ball sized hail, I quickly learned how devastating those little ice-balls can be. If you are going through the same repairs and clean-up efforts, visit my blog. My blog includes tips that can help you identify hail damage and learn what to do to repair it.
tips for identifying and repairing home hail damage
Own Your Own Home? Make Sure You Maintain The Basement And Foundation
Aria Korpershoek
If you want to keep your home in good condition, you need to do maintenance. Part of this maintenance includes making sure your basement is waterproofed and checking the foundation periodically. Below is some more information about these two things so you can see why it is important that you do them.
Basement Waterproofing
If your home has a basement, you should waterproof it. This can even raise the value of your home, and prevent you from having to pay very high repair bills. Some other benefits waterproofing offers you include:
- Reduce energy costs: The waterproofing process includes sealing cracks in your basement, which block out moisture and cold air. It also keeps warm air from escaping out of the basement.
- Increase living space: A waterproofed basement is no longer a drafty and damp place. Because most basements run the length of the home, it can be used as additional living space.
- Avoid health risks: Mold can grow anywhere there is water and humidity, and mold can cause things like headaches, damage the respiratory system, itchy eyes and skin, sneezing, and runny nose. Mold can grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
If your basement does flood, make sure you call a water damage restoration company immediately. They can do things like extract the water, remove and contain odor caused by mold and mildew, clean and restore carpeting, and remove stains and deodorize carpeting. When the company is finished, no one will ever know there was a flood in your basement.
Foundation Repair
You may not even think about your foundation but you need to walk around your home and inspect it for any cracks periodically. Very small cracks can be normal. If you see any cracks that are horizontal or in a diagonal pattern, however, then you could have a big problem.
Cracks can happen when a foundation settles. You may also notice doors that will not close or bulging floors inside your home. Fortunately, the foundation can be repaired in most cases. Foundation settlement can be caused by drought. When soil has no moisture, it shrinks. When this happens, the soil pulls away from the foundation, and this will create a gap that allows the foundation to move. Maturing trees on your property can also cause foundation settlement. This happens when the roots from these trees grow under the foundation and the roots draw moisture from the soil.
No matter the reason, you should call a foundation expert as soon as you see a crack to prevent further damage. If you wait too long, the entire foundation may collapse.
Take time to educate yourself about waterproofing your basement and repairing your foundation. It can help to know a little about the work you are having done by a professional. Contact water damage restoration services for more information.
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