Guide: 10 minute moisture walk around

With the recent heavy rains, we wanted to give a quick, what to look for when there is heavy rain or large snow melt. Larger amounts of precipitation can do a good job of revealing moisture issues around our homes or buildings. We recommend taking an observant 1o minutes to walk around your house or building to watch where water is being directed.

Inside: Look specifically for leaks early in the season, it can save you from a bigger headache later in year. Roof damage can happen anywhere but the common areas to find leaks is around roof vents, skylights and chimneys. Check attics, crawlspaces and basements for any moisture intrusions or high humidity. If you are just poking your head into those spaces, damp wood or spotting on wood is an early indicator that the moisture content is too high.

Outside: Look for pooling water within 10’ of the building exterior but especially around the foundation itself. Excessive water runoff coming right up to the house is something we see very often in the Silver Valley. Look for broken or missing gutters, missing or disconnected downspouts. Gutters play a huge role in redirecting water away from the foundation. If you do not have gutters, check to see if there is anything that can be done to route the runoff away from the foundation and reduce or eliminate the amount of splash back onto or under siding.

These are typically easy to spot during heavy precipitation and common findings during our inspections. If you have more questions or would like your home inspected professionally, call or message us.