Home Wrecker

While on the subject of things that destroy homes, this won't ruin your house as fast as a fire, but a simple undetected/ignored water leak can slowly rot a house right from under you.

Water leaks can be put into two groups.

Internal leaks - leaks from plumbing, shower/tub enclosures or water heaters.

External leaks - leaks from roofing, windows, siding, flashing, etc.

I'll start with internal leaks. In most cases you know about that stupid little drip under the sink in the extra bathroom. You saw it three years ago, but it wasn't that bad and you were going to fix it the next day when you had time. Right? I know, out of sight, out of mind. Now that drip has ruined the bottom of the vanity cabinet, the subfloor, flooring, a wall, some insulation...you get the picture. Not to mention that bad smelling black stuff that's growing under there now!

What was a five minute job is now a days long project and a repair bill that can quickly reach into the thousands! That's okay though, call me and I'll fix it! :-)

Check for leaks often. Fix them immediately!

For homes not built on a cement slab (mobile homes are typically the worst) you'll need to check that fun space that's between the dirt and your floor for leaks, and in cold climates check for proper insulation on any exposed plumbing.

If you have a leak in a wastewater line, stop using that (lets say bathroom, for example) immediately until things are dry under there. You won't find a plumber that will work while laying in sewer mud.

While spending that quality time down under it's a good time to have a good look at everything else under your home too, like rodent populations.

Next up are external leaks. It's always a good idea to have an experienced roofer do an annual inspection of your roofing. While tile roofs are less problematic, any areas where vents or chimneys meet the tile should be checked. Any inspection should always include looking in the attic space for evidence of leaks. Insist on it!

After strong winds, have a look for anything that may have taken flight to your neighbors yard. Missing shingles and rolled roofing are pretty common here in the California High Desert. However, there are a few things that can be done when installing a new roof to make sure it stays put in the wind.

Needless to say, a roof leak can ruin everything from the sheeting (plywood) under your shingles, to your ceiling, walls, etc.

Now it's just a matter of taking a good hard look at the rest of your house for any place water can enter a wall, window or door.

It's amazing the amount of damage that can be done by something as mild as water.

~SJN