EMC Real Estate March 24, 2011- March is a month that can't decide whether to be winter or spring in Ottawa. So just to cover all its bases, it's thrown both piles of snow and buckets of rain down upon us. Aside from the difficulty walking anywhere, extricating one's car from a parking spot, and worrying about which coat to wear on any given day, homeowners should be aware that water and ice can do serious damage to their home if they end up in the wrong places. The primary entry points for water are the roof and the foundation, so you should check on both in the spring to make sure they are doing their part to keep your home safe and dry.
Flooding is a top concern this time of year when we're all slogging through massive puddles. If water builds up around your foundation it could leak into your basement. Most homes have landscaping designed to draw water away from the foundation, but over time the ground can settle and water may collect next to the house and find its way in through even the tiniest of cracks. Once that happens, the water can freeze and may enlarge the crack.
Take a walk around your house, preferably after a good rain, to see if there's any standing water. Check the grading all around your house to ensure that land slopes away from, not towards, the foundation, and be on the lookout for cracks. If there are puddles, the area needs to be re-graded professionally to send that water on its way. If you do find cracks in the parging or concrete, it's a good idea to have your basement checked for any leaks at the same time.
Your downspouts and gutters should also be clean and working properly to direct rainfall away from the foundation. Clogged gutters will send water straight down from the edge of the roof to the ground rather than funneling it away.
If your downspouts aren't long enough they can deposit water where you don't want it, downspout extenders are an easy and inexpensive solution to this issue.
Your roof should also be inspected once a year. Spring is a great time to do this, because any damage caused by snow, ice and wind will be fresh and can be fixed before it gets worse. Start inside the attic, to check for damp patches or water stains caused by small leaks that aren't visible from the outside.
Next, the exterior of the roof should be checked for loose or missing shingles or cracked flashings (the pieces that are placed over joints in the roof and around a chimney). The most vulnerable spots are where shingles meet another type of material (such as a chimney or wall) or where the roof line changes direction.
Leaks can be fixed by re-applying sealant, and loose shingles can be nailed back down, but if the roof is in very bad condition (several large leaks, tons of missing shingles, brittle or crumbling shingles) it may be time to replace it.
Water will invade your home from above and below if given the chance - make sure it never gets started and you'll stay dry all spring.
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