Hurricane season is here!

9/17/2018 (Permalink)

Water Damage

Hurricane preparations aren't just for our neighbors in the South!

We do not get very many hurricanes here in New England, but that doesn't mean that we should ignore them! We need to prepare for the season as well. We very often feel the tail ends of these storms, and with that comes wind and WATER. Often times, A LOT of rain. We may not need to batten down the hatches so to speak, But we DO need to protect our homes from potential WATER and STORM damage.

Here are some steps that you can take to prepare and protect your home.

Inspect and Repair Your Roof

A leaky roof can cause a lot more damage to your house than unsightly water stains on the ceiling. Roof leaks keep attic insulation wet, which can lead to rot and mold.

The unseen damage caused by roof leaks is often worse than what meets the eye, so it’s important to have it fixed as soon as possible. Having a reputable roofing contractor inspect your roof, check for undetected leaks, and make any needed repairs can prevent more costly damage down the road.

Document Your Possessions

Take a picture or video of your possessions. This is invaluable for Insurance claims after the storm.

Keep all important records and documents in water proof containers and if you can, maintain a digital copy of all important records and keep them in a waterproof safe or safety deposit box away from your house.

Trim Your Trees

To help prevent storm damage to your home, it’s important to trim tree branches that are growing near or hanging over your home to prevent them from breaking and crashing through the roof or damaging your siding during a storm.

Check to make sure all trees and large shrubs are alive and well, and remove any dead limbs or unhealthy plants.

Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts

It’s important to make sure to keep your gutters clean, repair any gutter leaks, and check regularly to see that they drain properly.

In addition, inspect your downspouts, remove any downspout clogs, and use splash blocks or downspout extension pipes to make sure the water is directed well away from your house foundation.

Protect Your Foundation and Basement

To help keep your basement dry and prevent flooding around your home, make sure the ground slopes away from your home’s foundation by at least 6” over the first 10’. In addition, consider having a sump pump installed in your basement to remove any ground water that may seep in.

In the case that water does find its way inside your basement, leave a 1/2″ to 1” gap between the bottom of the drywall and the basement floor to prevent moisture from creeping up the wallboard and causing mold to grow within the walls. Hide the gap with strips of wood molding or rubberized floor trim.

If you have appliances, such as a washer and dryer or a furnace in your basement, make sure that they are high enough off of the basement floor level to avoid damage.Consider putting them on cinder blocks.

Even with the best preparations in the world; Mother Nature sometimes wins! If you find your home has suffered STORM and or WATER damage contact SERVPRO of Lebanon/Hanover/Littleton. We are prepared and READY to handle your needs. To contact us Click here.

Like it never even happened.