Protect Your Investment: Repair Minor Damage Promptly.

From Barry Hogan and the Lambton Shield.

Winter storms can be hard on your home. Gusty winds, driving rain and icy temperatures can combine to damage roofs, siding, windows and doors.

Winter storm damage often goes unnoticed and unrepaired until spring weather arrives. By then, water from rain, snow and ice may have already penetrated into walls, attics, basements and crawl spaces. While water damage itself can be unsightly, one of the biggest dangers from undetected moisture infiltration is mould. If left unchecked, mould growth may cause structural damage to your home.

According to a report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, any area exposed to moisture in a home has the potential to become a breeding ground for mould.

Mould can be found wherever there is moisture, oxygen and something for mould to feed on. 

In your home, those areas may include a damp laundry area, an unvented bathroom, or a closet where wet clothing or boots have been put away.

However, one of the worst places mould can grow is where it is less easily detected – inside wall cavities and under flooring that has become wet due to leaks caused by winter weather. It is critical to check for and repair even minor winter storm damage on the outside of your home before mould gets out of control.

Check the following areas for potential water infiltration:

Roof  

• Look for loose or missing shingles.
• Check the metal flashing around a fireplace chimney or skylight.
• Trim back tree limbs that could brush or fall on the roof should they break.
• Inspect the attic or crawl space to verify that there are no leaks that could damage ceilings.

Link to the rest here.

Images. Zach Neal.

Thank you for reading.