THREE AREAS AROUND YOUR HOME YOU SHOULD CONSIDER STRENGTHENING


REPAIR AND SEAL HOLES, CRACKS AND LEAKS

Water can get into your home in a lot of different ways, especially during extreme weather conditions.
Even small holes in your exterior walls can allow enough water into a house to cause a ton of damage. Your air conditioner helps to dehumidify your home and if you lose power for long enough time, conditions become ripe for mold growth.

You should always inspect your home for cracks and entry points where water can get in. Take a good look around your windows and look at the sealing there, if the sealing is starting to look damaged you may want to consider repairing it to make sure that you keep a good seal. Keep a look out for areas where cabling or piping penetrates your exterior walls. The holes that were created to pass through piping or wiring needs to have a good weather seal as well. Here are some areas you should consider inspecting to make sure they are well sealed and in good condition:
Windows and Doors
Foundation and Exterior Walls
Flashing
Vents
Attics
Basements
Expansion Joints
Exterior Wood Sheathing and Siding
Drywall
Exterior Walls
Soffits


THE SHINGLES ON YOUR ROOF

Making sure your roof shingles are in good shape is important. Make sure you periodically check the condition of your roof shingles. A few things you can easily look for is to see if your shingles are separating at the edges. Check the edge of your shingles, if they lift easily, keep in mind that if you are in an area where there are high winds sealing these loose shingles will help to keep your roof from peeling away and leaving costly damage. If your roof is older, you may want to consider starting a budget to repair or replace your roof covering. There are some simple things you can do to help keep them adhered to the surface, however, you should always consult a licensed roofer if you are at all uneasy with working on your roof.

When you are looking at your roof, pay close attention to all the areas where items penetrate the roof. Look for areas such as vent piping or chimneys. These areas are places where water can easily get into your attic causing damage so proper sealing is important. If the sealant looks cracked or brittle you may want to consider resealing it or replacing it. Again, if you are unsure, you might want to contact a roofing contractor to help you out.


MAKE THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME SAFER

This may seem like common sense, however, we often forget that trees close to the home can often cause a lot of damage with very little wind behind them. Make sure you look all around your house for areas where branches or even whole trees can fall, damaging your home. In these areas you may want to consider trimming your trees away from your home. For some trees, trimming helps to keep them healthy. A landscaper or gardener can also help give you pointers on how to best keep your surroundings healthy and your home safe. If you are concerned with how close trees are to your home, let them know and they can help guide you in the best direction as far as what to do.

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