5 Ways To Protect Your Home From Heavy Rainfall

Don’t get caught in the rain! From your roof to foundation, here are a few things you can do to help keep your home dry during the rainy season. 

With picturesque trees, a cool crisp breeze and all things pumpkin spice, Fall is often a welcomed change of seasons. But one thing that comes with Fall that isn’t always welcomed is rain. And lots of it.

As a homeowner, it’s important to be prepared for the elements. While rain is good for our grass and gardens, one heavy downpour may be enough to cause significant damage to your home.

Here are a few preventative measures you can take to avoid a soggy disaster and protect your home from heavy rainfall.

1. Clean Your Gutters

Many homeowners don’t realize the importance of rain gutters, downspouts, and gutter guards. When gutters are properly installed, they keep water and snow away from your foundation.

Inspect your gutters to ensure they’re in good shape and clean them regularly to avoid a build-up of leaves and dirt which causes water to pool. Not only can this lead to unwanted leaks but if the weight is heavy enough, it can put a strain on your roof.

If cleaning your gutters is a challenge, consider having gutter guards added. These protective barriers keep leaves and debris out while allowing the rain to flow through.

Make sure your downspouts are pointed away from the house and in the most downhill direction to redirect the rain. Water pooling against your foundation can seep in through cracks (we’ll touch on this later) and can lead to mold and other issues inside your home.

Professionally installed gutters and downspouts can save you thousands in repairs. When you compare that to the price of installation, it’s one of the best investments you can make for your home.

2. Examine Your Roof

Even if you’ve never had any leaks or damage to your roof, it’s important to give it a good look over before the rainy season begins.

Damaged or missing shingles, popped or rusted nails, sagging, and damage to flashing or overhangs are all signs that you may need repair work done. From our experience, it’s best to have these problems resolved before it leads to bigger issues!

Letting these things go ignored can lead to rain seeping into the attic and could result in major leaks and mold inside your home.

For more warning signs that your roof may need to be repaired or replaced, read our recent post – 5 Signs Your Home Needs a New Roof.

Going up on your roof yourself can be extremely dangerous. If you’re concerned there may be an issue, please give us a call. Our GAF certified experts at Smart Home Improvements SM can help examine your roof and guide you through any necessary repairs or replacement. Basically, we got you covered.

3. Seal Foundation Cracks

A solid foundation is key for any home so it’s important to check your foundation regularly for any cracks or signs of damage.

In many cases, a minor hairline crack is not something to panic about but is a relatively simple fix that should be done before any major rainfalls.

If you’ve noticed any cracks, it’s a good idea to seal them up. While a thin crack is often just the result of the house settling or concrete shrinking, you want to avoid any opportunity for water to seep in.

Some moisture can be expected in below-grade basements but visible water coming through a crack can mean mold and mildew.

There are many products available that can help you seal small cracks on your own. However, if there’s a new crack that seems to be getting larger or if there is any bulging in the foundation, it’s best to have an expert evaluate the situation as there may be a structural issue.

4. Seal Your Windows and Doors

Not only are old leaky windows and doors bad for your energy bill, but they can also allow rainwater into your home. In some cases, it may be a minor caulking repair needed.

If you are planning on tackling this project yourself, be sure to read labels carefully and choose the correct type of caulk for your situation (i.e. interior, exterior, high humidity, etc.). If you’re a beginner, it may be best to practice “running a bead” first so that your finished handiwork looks seamless.

In other cases, it may be time for window and/or door replacement throughout your home. If you’ve noticed a draft or an increase in energy bills, consider having new ones professionally installed. In the long run, this will save you time and money.

5. Need Help? Call The Experts!

As a homeowner, it’s important to take a few extra steps ahead of the rainy season, especially when expecting heavy rainfall.

In many cases, there are some relatively simple solutions to help seal up your home and protect it against the elements.

If you’re unsure or unable to fix these things on your own, please contact us. From installing new energy-efficient windows to replacing a damaged roof, the experts at Smart Home Improvements SM are here for you.