SECURING YOUR HOME AGAINST THE ELEMENTS
Even if you don’t live in an at-risk region, extreme weather can damage a building
It’s all about location, location, location. When building homes, you should always take into consideration the unique geography of every area before you even begin to dream up the plans.
Every house can’t be built the same. You need to look at a number of different factors:
Do you live in an area susceptible to flooding?
Are you in a tornado zone? Are you at risk for a termite infestation?
Your builder needs to be taking all of these into consideration so you end up having a home that will stand strong in any conditions.
Even if you don’t live in an atrisk area, geographically speaking, you never know if you could be hit with, say, a nasty windstorm. Wind damage will often be most concentrated on your roof, which can lead to problems with water and moisture later on.
Wind and your roof: What shape is your roof in? If you notice that some of the shingles are flapping in the breeze, that could cause trouble down the road and, the next time it rains, possibly allow wind-driven water to seep into your attic space.
Generally, most wind damage to a roof will start from an edge or at the peaks, but if you have loose shingles elsewhere, the wind can blow in from underneath and start peeling groups of shingles at a time. If you don’t keep these in check, the damage will continue to grow as the wind blows. Even with an underlayment underneath the shingles, water will get in once the roof becomes exposed, causing further damage.
Your roof flashing can be a weak spot for wind to penetrate. If there are any holes in the flashing, or it’s improperly installed, it could allow for the wind to create more drag, making the rest of your roof vulnerable to damage.
Smart landscaping: Your landscaping can work for or against you. By planting with care, you can help mitigate the effects of strong winds with some wellplaced trees. Lining your property with a few trees will help slow the wind down before it hits your home, lessening the effect it will have on your structure. This process is called a windbreak.
Even one or two trees can have a positive effect. You’ll want to ensure you plant on the side of the house that receives the prevailing winds — where that is will depend on your geography. A good landscaper can help you find the spots on your property where a tree (or two) will be best planted.
You want to be careful that you don’t plant trees too close to your home. Not only can the roots penetrate your weeping tile around your foundation (they go where the water is), if you lose a branch during a major windstorm, you don’t want it striking your roof, potentially causing major damage. Keep a close eye on the trees that are close to your property. If you notice any dead branches, cut them back before they become a liability during extreme weather.
Eavestroughs: Are your eavestroughs in good enough shape to weather any storm? Gutters are there to make sure water moves away from your home — and believe me, you don’t want to deal with excess water getting into your home, on top of any other storm damage.
Make sure the gutters are securely fastened to your house. With heavy enough winds, you could see the eavestrough pull away from the fascia. Once you see them start to pull away, they will keep deteriorating at a much quicker pace. By keeping them tight to the home, they’ll last longer, and be more secure during the winter months when weighed down by snow and ice.
After a heavy windstorm, be on the lookout for major debris clogging your eavestrough, preventing the smooth flow of water. If clogs are a frequent problem with your system, you can install smart screens over top of the gutters that will keep debris on top of the screen (and harmlessly blow off to the lawn below with a good breeze), while still allowing water to pass through freely.
To really build for the future, we need to build in a way that’s sustainable, and that will look different in every region. It’s time to toss the cookie cutter and find ways to construct homes that can take whatever Mother Nature throws at them.