Thursday, May 16, 2013

Protecting the Home from Mold

By Hedrick Lepsch


As long-time residences of Raleigh already know, the spring time in North Carolina can get very wet. Rain and thunder storms are often prevalent during the spring months and the risk of finding a flooded basement or bottom floor greatly increases.

Flood damage is the most costly expenditure from natural disasters on average every year in the United States. This is due largely to the extremely degrading properties that are found naturally in water.

Even a short exposure to water can damage or destroy most items is a home as well as cause structural damage to the home itself. Water damage in Raleigh likewise increases the risk of mold growth in hard to reach places such as behind the drywall of a home or under the carpets in the house.

When mold grows behind the visible places of the home it can be extremely difficult to remove, sometimes necessitating a homeowner to remove entire sections of carpet or wall in order to remove completely the mold spores from the home. With all of the potential damage that only a few inches of water can do, it is important for homeowners in Raleigh to know how they can prepare for and mitigate water damage in Raleigh this spring.

The first step that a Raleigh homeowner can do to help lower the chances of flood waters damaging their home is to inspect and repair the home's foundation and exterior. By inspecting the outside of the home and by making any necessary repairs, a homeowner will be able to effectively seal the home from outside water.

Trouble spots in most homes that a homeowner will want to ensure are water tight include the area around the home where the framing of the structure meets the concrete foundation. This may be below ground and will need to be thus inspected and repaired by using any available crawl spaces that have been built into the home.

The roof of the home can likewise become an entry point for damaging water. A homeowner may wish to inspect their home's roof for leaks, cracks, and other damage before the heavy rains of springtime come around.

If flooding in the home has been a common occurrence in the past, perhaps it may be time for the homeowner to take more drastic steps in preparing for flood waters. If stopping the waters from entering the home is not possible, it is still possible to prepare to mitigate the damage by undertaking a few home improvements.

The first home improvement that can be undertaken is to switch out carpet for tile or another hard surface material that will make clean up after a flood much easier and with little to no damage. A Raleigh homeowner may also want to consider installing durable and water resistant baseboards that will protect the walls of the home from flood waters.

By preparing now for the future wet weather of spring, residence and homeowners in Raleigh will be better able to protect their home, and their possessions, from the frequent flood waters of the springtime.




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