Your Roof: The First Line Of Defense
Your home’s roof is the first line of defense against the elements. A good roof will provide protection against the wind and the rain without much trouble. Roofing material is not waterproof, however, and if water is allowed to pool it can quickly damage your roof. A well-designed roof is able to quickly shed water off of the home and into the gutter system that further drains water away from the home.
Why Your Gutter Is So Important
Even the best designed roof won’t help you if the gutter is no good. A no-good gutter can mean anything from one that just needs a bit of cleaning to one that is completely structurally unsound. Without a proper gutter water carelessly rolls off the roof and can easily make its way under the shingles or into the siding. The longer it sits there the more damage it will do and in the long-term it can cause some major issues.
What Do We Mean When We Say “Grading”?
A grade is just another way of saying a slope. Ideally your land should slope away from the foundation of your home. Even a slight grade can keep water from pooling up against your foundation and seeping into your basement. The proper grading for a home will depend on a few factors but it’s not too difficult to tell when a home has improper grading. If you’re looking at a home and there is noticeable pooling of water around the foundation or signs of water in the basement it probably doesn’t have the correct grading.
Issues That Arise From Improper Grading And Drainage
A failure in any of the elements of your homes drainage system can lead to major structural damage. Poorly designed roofs allow water to pool and seep through, causing interior water damage and in some cases even mold infestations. Faulty gutters or grading that doesn’t have the appropriate fall away from the structure will lead to water pooling around the foundation which could lead to foundation damage in the long-term.
Protecting Yourself From The Elements
You want a house that will provide ample protection from the elements for many years to come. The problem is: how do you know when you’ve found it? One way of being sure that you’re getting a house that can stand the test of time is with an independent home inspection. A home inspection from a certified inspector will tell you everything you need to know about a house and allow you to make a fully informed decision.
Please contact us at Super Inspection Pros. today to learn more about our home inspection process or to schedule an inspection for your home. You can also find more information about our services at our website.
