How to Prevent Garage Water Damage?
Although garage water damage often accounts for significant repair and restoration needs during floods or heavy rainstorms, homeowners rarely consider that possibility until after the fact. The garage, quite often, is not thought of as an extension of the home, so that there is little proactive attempt to protect it from the elements. In many instances, the garage is prone to water damage because there is no tight seal that prevents water entry. Another reason is that the items stored in the garage often obstruct small leaks from being visible until there is more significant and more expensive damage to repair.
Weatherstripping
Garages have the biggest entry door in the home, enough to accommodate one to three cars. As such, they are quite susceptible to water damages. Although there are many products on the market designed for garage door weatherstripping, they do not seem to be widely or consistently utilized. Optimally, all four edges of garage door weatherstripping are supposed to rest tightly against the garage frame to keep cold and moist air out, energy bills low and potential water damage to a minimum. In fact, many homeowners overlook the garage and do not optimize it for winter weather.
Roof and Gutters
To avoid leaks, it is imperative to check the roof and make sure it is in good condition, with no missing shingles or deteriorated flashings throughout, including over the garage area. In addition, if gutters are clogged by debris or are poorly maintained, then roof water damage, foundation settling issues and garage water damage are likely. When checking gutters all around the house, including those over the garage, it is imperative they be drained into rain downspouts that direct the water a minimum of five feet away from the house.
Storage Optimization to Avoid Moisture
Many homeowners use the garage as a storage area for various rarely used items as well as for outdoors recreational sports equipment. However, many garages flood during heavy rains, causing boxed items stored on the floor to get wet. Sometimes, structural water damages are obvious to walls, floor and ceiling, as well as to content stored in the garage. However, at times, the damage is not as conspicuous and visible, resulting in worsening water damages that are hidden behind stored items. Overtime, leaks make wood and sheetrock swell and warp. It does not take long for wet materials to grow mold.
Preventing Garage Water Damage
Garage water damage is inevitable for many homeowners. However, anticipating and proactively guarding against it prevents water damages from escalating in many cases. Preventing garage water damages is a process that needs to be checked and maintained on an ongoing basis. Weatherstripping prevents, or at least minimizes leaks and their destructive consequences. Checking the roof and gutters before the rainy season and after storms protects against attic and ceiling water damage in the house as well as in the garage. In addition, installing shelves in the garage and storing items further away from the floor has a better chance of keeping them dry when flooding does occur.
Although garage water damage often accounts for significant repair and restoration needs during floods or heavy rainstorms, homeowners rarely consider that possibility until after the fact. The garage, quite often, is not thought of as an extension of the home, so that there is little proactive attempt to protect it from the elements. In many instances, the garage is prone to water damage because there is no tight seal that prevents water entry. Another reason is that the items stored in the garage often obstruct small leaks from being visible until there is more significant and more expensive damage to repair.
Weatherstripping
Garages have the biggest entry door in the home, enough to accommodate one to three cars. As such, they are quite susceptible to water damages. Although there are many products on the market designed for garage door weatherstripping, they do not seem to be widely or consistently utilized. Optimally, all four edges of garage door weatherstripping are supposed to rest tightly against the garage frame to keep cold and moist air out, energy bills low and potential water damage to a minimum. In fact, many homeowners overlook the garage and do not optimize it for winter weather.
Roof and Gutters
To avoid leaks, it is imperative to check the roof and make sure it is in good condition, with no missing shingles or deteriorated flashings throughout, including over the garage area. In addition, if gutters are clogged by debris or are poorly maintained, then roof water damage, foundation settling issues and garage water damage are likely. When checking gutters all around the house, including those over the garage, it is imperative they be drained into rain downspouts that direct the water a minimum of five feet away from the house.
Storage Optimization to Avoid Moisture
Many homeowners use the garage as a storage area for various rarely used items as well as for outdoors recreational sports equipment. However, many garages flood during heavy rains, causing boxed items stored on the floor to get wet. Sometimes, structural water damages are obvious to walls, floor and ceiling, as well as to content stored in the garage. However, at times, the damage is not as conspicuous and visible, resulting in worsening water damages that are hidden behind stored items. Overtime, leaks make wood and sheetrock swell and warp. It does not take long for wet materials to grow mold.
Preventing Garage Water Damage
Garage water damage is inevitable for many homeowners. However, anticipating and proactively guarding against it prevents water damages from escalating in many cases. Preventing garage water damages is a process that needs to be checked and maintained on an ongoing basis. Weatherstripping prevents, or at least minimizes leaks and their destructive consequences. Checking the roof and gutters before the rainy season and after storms protects against attic and ceiling water damage in the house as well as in the garage. In addition, installing shelves in the garage and storing items further away from the floor has a better chance of keeping them dry when flooding does occur.
