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WHAT TO DO WHEN IT’S RAINING INSIDE YOUR HOME

All the weather reports are saying SoCal is going to experience a rainy winter, as El Nino bears down on us. While we need the rain, too much of a good thing can be disastrous. Let’s talk about what we can do when the worst happens in the rainy season.

Emergency steps:
Your ceiling is dripping and is beginning to bulge, indicating trapped water. Get some buckets ready, and poke a small hole in the middle of the sag with a knife or other sharp object. Drain out the water to prevent a ceiling collapse. If water is leaking near light fixtures or wiring, turn off the main circuit breaker immediately. Water and electricity do not mix well.
Catch and block the water with buckets, tubs, towels and tarps. Move valuable objects, like furniture, rugs and electronics, out of the leaking area.

Common sources of water leaks:
A leaky roof results from damaged shingles, worn roof valleys and missing flashing above exterior doors. Flashing is waterproofing material installed around a door to prevent rainwater from getting into the walls, framing or interior of the home. Clogged gutters can also be a problem, as this prevents drainage, and so the water pools and can back up under the roofline or into the attic. Another not uncommon place for water intrusion is windows and door frames. This can
happen when the weather stripping is worn, the exterior caulk is cracked or the flashing is missing. These flaws allow water to seep through the walls. Foundation cracks can also contribute to water intrusion issues.

Drying out and preventing mold:
It’s very important to dry the wet space out quickly, as damaging and unhealthy mold and mildew can start growing within hours. Use fans and dehumidifiers. Remove ruined and soaked drywall, insulation, carpets and carpet padding. You can always hire a water damage restoration contractor if you have a water emergency that exceeds your ability to deal with it. They will clean up the water, remove damaged drywall and dry up your space to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.

Now that you know you have leak issues, what is the next step?
Your next step is to hire a leak detection specialist, sometimes called a forensic leak investigator. These professionals have the skills, knowledge and equipment to find the exact entry points of rainwater, which is not always obvious, meaning the source can be a distance from where you are seeing the water intrusion. Using scientific testing and non-destructive tools, there will be no blind guesswork and the unnecessary tearing down of walls.

First, the leak investigator will do a visual inspection of the roof, windows, exterior walls, stucco, doors, balconies and more, looking for poor or even missing flashing, shoddy construction and other defects. After this thorough inspection, they will provide you with a detailed independent report, with documentation, photos and test results, which you can now use with your contractor for repairs. Most rain leak specialists remain independent from repairs. This allows them to stay
more objective and gives you some reassurance they will not be adding on extra repairs.

You have your report in hand…what’s next?
You have handled the emergency, cleaned up the mess and have an accurate report of where the leaks are coming from. Your next step will be to hire a competent general contractor who has some experience repairing water damaged homes and equipping the home with the proper grading, flashing etc. that will prevent future water leaks. Depending on where your water damage occurred, you could be faced with having to replace floors, repairing damaged cabinetry, foundation and structural damage, door and window replacement, repairs to exterior stucco and interior walls.

Water damage and remediation can seem overwhelming, but if you as the homeowner respond quickly and get a skilled team in place to help you, this could be the last time you ever have to deal with serious water issues in your home.

At RWT Design and Build, we have 30+ years of experience helping homeowners with their water issues and repairing the damage caused by leaks. We have good relationships with roofing contractors and professional water leak detection specialists. We can navigate you through the process of protecting your home from water damage.