How To Protect Your Attic From Water Damage
Water and moisture damage in your attic can cause many problems and may result in costly repairs. Porous building materials will absorb any amount of water it comes in contact with until the source of the moisture or water is removed. Leaving all that unchecked could ruin the building materials in your home.
To rectify the extensive damage to your building materials, you need help from mold and water damage specialists. However, it doesn’t have to be like that always. Here are some tips you can do to protect your attic from being damaged by water and too much moisture.
Keep Your Roof in Good Condition
Many cases of water damage in the attic are caused by a leaky roof. If you regularly have your roof checked for leaks and prevent your gutters from clogging up, you wouldn’t be experiencing leaks in the first place. Regular roof inspections and maintenance should do the trick, especially if it’s springtime where the weather isn’t too hot or too cold.
An excellent way to keep your roof from being damaged is to trim some of those tree branches that go over your roof. Tree branches do provide some shade, but they can potentially destroy huge parts of your roofing right after a storm.
Call for Roof Repairs When Needed
Hiring a roofing contractor for maintenance and repair work lets you identify what parts of your roof may need some fixing. You can always do the inspection and repair yourself, but that could require too much effort and can sometimes be too dangerous. Leaving it to the professionals is always the best option.
Look for any missing shingles and have them replaced immediately. Any cracked or damaged parts of your roof should also be repaired. If it’s been decades since you’ve had your current roofing installed, maybe it’s even time to have them replaced entirely. Whichever path you choose will only help protect your attic from any water damage.
Ensure Proper Insulation and Ventilation
A properly ventilated attic can effectively get rid of any moisture trapped inside. Failing to do so will only cause moisture to build up inside your attic, which leads to water damage. This is especially important during wintertime when warm air rises. The warm air will enter your attic and eventually condense because of the cold surfaces present there. Without proper ventilation, the condensation will have nowhere to go. Once winter is over, you may need to request water damage cleanup and restoration.
Insulation is also important for your house. A thick, soft, and dry insulation is ideal for your attic. Anything less than that will result in high levels of moisture. You better check your insulation if it still looks okay. Otherwise, have it replaced with a new one.
Inspect and Maintain Attic Appliances
If you have any appliance or HVAC systems placed in your attic, it’s crucial to inspect them regularly and ensure they are working properly. Regular maintenance on attic appliances, especially those that produce moisture, is important. A damaged HVAC system can leak water, and you all know what happens after that. Inspecting it and having it fixed will prevent your HVAC from becoming a headache.
Conclusion
When you think of all the rooms in your home that need protection from water damage, your attic should be your top priority. It’s basically your second line of defense after your roof against the harsh elements outside. By following these tips, you can protect your attic from sustaining any water damage and causing more problems in the future.
Whether it’s molds, damaged crawl spaces, or water damage, you need help from a clean-up and restoration company with the right experience. Master Restoration provides crawl space and fire damage restoration, disaster cleanup, and water damage repair in Boise, ID. Our team of professional technicians will help make your home whole again. Contact us for emergency services!