Water Damage and Your Home: What to Look For

Whether you’re looking to sell your home in the near future or you’d merely like to remain cognizant of its value, recognizing and fixing water damage is incredibly important; however, while it may seem tempting to paint over those water stains or replace a few sections of drywall, simply repairing the signs of water damage instead of tackling its cause will allow the problem to worsen.

Therefore, the first thing you need to know about water damage is that the source of the leak must be stopped before anything else can be done. While that may not always require the help of a professional, more often than not, serious breaches will entail the assistance of an experienced plumbing or roofing specialist.

From there, it’s important to understand the signs of water damage so you’ll be able to catch the problem before the molehill becomes a mountain.

1. ODORS: Perhaps you’ve begun to notice a musty, odd scent whenever you pass by or enter a room, or perhaps things have begun to smell a bit earthy in your basement. Either way, annoyances like mold, mildew, rotting wood, and standing water have noticeable smells that generally indicate a leak somewhere in your home.

2. MOLDY GROWTHS: Mold, mildew, and fungus all thrive in moist dark areas with ample food sources—i.e. most building materials. Therefore, if water is wreaking havoc upon your home, those fuzzy, discolored growths will become entrenched within 36 to 72 hours and when left alone, continue to grow and spread.

3. STAINS: Ceiling discoloration and dark, unexpected stains make the discovery of a leak a virtual certainty. Plain and simple, whenever brownish stains appear—whether on your ceiling, walls, or floor—it’s time to launch an in-depth investigation.

4. PEELING WALLS: Technically, paint is an adhesive material, so when it comes into contact with a steady source of water, it may blister or peel. With this, wallpaper and plaster tend to have the same reaction, so if you’ve noticed your walls exhibiting any of these signs, a leak is probably the culprit.

5. WALL AND CEILING DAMAGE: While paint issues and stains may be one of the first signs of a problem, unchecked leaks may eventually result in structural issues such as walls that may warp or buckle, or ceilings that may sag or simply collapse. Drywall is a somewhat porous material, so if it begins to absorb water, it will eventually swell and disintegrate.

6. DAMAGED FLOORS: While somewhat less noticeable than blatant stains on the ceiling, if you begin to notice buckling, cracking, cupping, or a softening of your floors, a leak is probably the issue.

In the end, housing structures are built using materials that will eventually grow old and possibly fail, meaning that water damage is a somewhat common occurrence. However, while you might not always be able to prevent it, you can make sure to catch the situation early so it doesn’t become a problem that will wind up costing you thousands of dollars down the road.

If you’re attempting to sell your house and you’ve noticed any of these signs or are considering purchasing a home that appears to have similar problems, please feel free to contact me for the recommendation of qualified professionals who can help you investigate and repair. While these types of problems can cause a bit of uncertainty, they’re not always deal-breakers, so it’s important to have a solid understanding of the big picture.

Pam Evans | Hello Pam Evans Real Estate | www.HelloPamEvans.com | 678-778-6551