Spring Into Action Against Winter Damage

This year, it seems that after the long, cold and snowy winter we've had to endure, we are all more determined than ever to benefit from the warmth of spring and summer. In some ways, the same can be said about out homes, because they too have had to withstand the ravages of an unusually harsh winter. Sometimes, such an extreme winter can have more severe effects than we might first notice or suspect. Therefore, this year it is especially important to carefully examine your home to ensure it is able to withstand nature's next onslaught, whether during the height of summer of the depths of next winter.

Start At The Top

Typical Attic Problems
Your attic can be a source of many hidden problems that only worsen if left unattended. For example, just because your ceiling doesn't, there is no guarantee you don't have a leak. Small roof leaks can be caused by a loose shingle, cracked tar or damaged caulking. Water can dribble through the roof boards and slide down the underside causing damage in your attic without you knowing. Left unattended, leaks can get larger with every freeze/thaw cycle and becomes bigger, more expensive troubles over the next winter.

Icicle Damage
You may think that icicles are caused by a blocked eavestrough or downpipe, but they could be caused by poor insulation and venting in the attic. If furnace heat escapes through your roof in winter, it will cause snow to melt. The water then runs down the shingles to the overhanging eaves. Here it freezes, due to the absence of exposure to the escaping heat. This process continues as long as there is snow on the roof, and eventually the trapped and frozen water in the eaves becomes bigger and bigger, until it overflows and freezes into icicles, this ice dam causes damage to your roof as it expands up the slope of the roof all winter long, getting under shingles and causing nails to lift and seals to crack.

Air Leaks and Water Streaks
To check for roof damage, it's wise to get up into your attic at least once a year, preferably before the weather gets too hot or you'll find it a more uncomfortable insulation, and any unsealed vapor barriers. Also, look for signs of wet and dry rot, streaking water stains and any roof cracks. If you haven't got the proper attic ventilation (turbine, soffit vents, ect.), have it installed before the weather gets too hot.

Don't Forget to Check the Basement

Beware of Basement Cracks
Make it a habit to examine your basement regularly, especially after extreme weather conditions. By catching early symptoms of potential foundation problems, you could save yourself a great deal of expense and anxiety and prevent even more serious damage. Obviously you should check for cracks, which could have been caused by extreme temperature changes last winter. These cracks might require immediate attention, before you encounter heavy rain this summer. Remember that the situation could get even worse in early spring, if the ground is still frozen during a heavy rainstorm. Under such conditions, the water has nowhere to go but through the wall cracks and into your basement. For this reason, it is also important to check the foundation walls. Check that the soil has been filled right up to the outside wall and slopes away from your home. Also, adjust all downspouts so that they are directed to slow far from the building structure.

Basement Mold and Mildew
If you see or smell mould or mildew, you have too much humidity in your basement. Another sign of mold and mildew is the presence of white flakes or crystals on brick walls. These crystals are the result of excessive dampness (beyond what would naturally evaporate) released through the bricks. While humidity doesn't pose an immediate threat to your basements foundation, it can cause great discomfort and serious damage over time, so it's important to address it as it occurs. Simple solutions include proper ventilation and /or a dehumidifier. Both of these solutions would almost certainly improve the living conditions in your home. However, if things are more serious, you may also need to expose the foundation wall from the outside and recoat or "parge" the wall with a waterproof sealant. Such a job is best done during favorable weather.

More To Do's
Of course, there are many little things you can do inside the house to protect your home and improve your comfort during all four seasons. Consider modern window shading and/or screening, draft sealing, damp proofing, and regular air conditioning and furnace servicing, However, it is most important to take care of the integrity of your building's foundation, rood, and runoff management in the early spring and summer, so that you're ready when the weather turns for the worse. After all, the best way to enjoy the good weather is to know you're prepared for the bad. It may not be the most attractive thing about spring, but it certainly is an opportunity you shouldn't overlook.

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