Home & Garden
10 Ways To Protect Your Home From April Showers
Keep your home safe from potential water damage and other costly repairs with help from the pros this spring.

Each year, like clockwork, parts of the country are met with frequent showers throughout the month of April. These showers can help spring flowers bloom and wash away any pesky pollen, but without the right preparation and protection, April showers can also potentially damage your home. And unfortunately, water damage can be costly. On average, water damage restoration costs $2,400, but you can expect to pay as much as $4,250.
Fortunately, the pros at Thumbtack can help keep your home protected against potential water damage. A home services app used by millions, Thumbtack allows you to search for pros to complete just about any task — from waterproofing your basement to repairing your drywall. Keep dry this spring by recruiting the pros for these 10 tasks sure to help keep your home safe against showers.
1. Clean Your Gutters
It’s important to have your gutters properly cleaned by a pro to ensure that your home stays protected against showers. This intricate home task also has the potential to be dangerous, so it’s vital that you call on the pros for this job. Given the climbing involved and tools needed, hiring a pro to clean your gutters ensures that this chore is done safely and correctly.
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2. Update Or Replace Your Roof
Your roof is essential to the health of your home, and steady rainfall can wreak havoc on an already damaged roof when April showers roll around. Updating or replacing your roof is a major home improvement feat, but the pros can help you every step of the way. From inspecting your roof to installing a gable roof, they’ve quite literally got you covered.
3. Keep Plants Protected
Although plants and flowers thrive on April showers, it is possible for them to receive too much rain. Plants and flowers can be temperamental, that’s why it’s necessary to connect with a gardening pro to learn what you need to do to keep your plants and flowers protected against overwatering. They can even install tools or move forward with techniques needed for optimal plant protection.
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4. Waterproof Your Deck
It may be hard to enjoy your deck right now given those soaking April showers, but once the clouds clear and the sun breaks, you’ll be back to enjoying this outdoor space. And the last thing you want to worry about is fixing damage caused to your deck by rain. When you hire a professional deck waterproofing contractor in your area, they can apply the proper techniques to waterproof your deck so you can worry less about potential damage.
5. Caulk Around Windows And Doors
This task may seem simple, but it can provide ample protection against rain showers. For those unfamiliar, caulk is a waterproof filler and sealant that can prevent water from seeping into your home. A handyman can place caulking around windows, doors and anywhere else a gap needs to be sealed. Not only is it helpful against rain, but caulk can help block drafts and keep pests out.
6. Waterproof Your Basement
A flooded basement can be an absolute (and costly) nightmare. The water must be removed from the basement, the basement will need to be dried, and damaged items will need to be thrown away. Fortunately, you can avoid this soggy situation by hiring a professional basement waterproofer this spring. Waterproofing can be done by the pros in a day or a couple of days, but the wait will certainly pay off.
7. Repair Or Replace Drywall If It Gets Wet
Once drywall gets wet, it can potentially cause dangerous mold to form. This happens very quickly, so it’s vital that you call a professional drywall contractor to get your drywall repaired or replaced. One benefit of hiring a professional is that they’re equipped with the knowledge to decipher whether your drywall can be salvaged or if it will need to be replaced. This can help save you money in the long run by avoiding unnecessary repairs.
8. Install A Sump Pump
A great defense against potential flooding, a sump pump works by removing water that has accumulated in a water-collecting sump basin. Sump pumps are typically found in flood susceptible basements. Given that a sump pump is a device that’s installed below the main ground level, you’ll absolutely need a sump pump contractor for this complex task.
9. Check For Drainage Issues In Your Yard
Poor yard drainage can cause a number of problems, including structural damage to your home and damage to your plants. A landscaping pro is your best bet in identifying any drainage issues in your yard before they become harmful. Once any drainage issues are identified, the pros can then be hired to dig a creek bed, construct a rain garden or take any other steps needed to resolve the problem.
10. Utilize Sandbags
An easy and affordable way to keep rainwater out of your home is with sandbags. Sandbags can be placed in areas that are commonly breached by water, including basement doorways or garage doors. The sandbags, which you’ll have to fill with your own sand, can be purchased at your local home improvement store for typically less than one dollar per bag.
Let The Pros On Thumbtack Help Keep Your Home Dry And Damage-Free
Whether you’ve decided that you’d like to waterproof your basement or you simply need your gutters cleaned, the pros on Thumbtack are ready and available. Once you have a task you’d like to knock off your to-do list, getting started with Thumbtack is easy. Just enter your name, email and password directly on the Thumbtack website or the easy-to-use Thumbtack app to create a new account (or sign up with your existing Facebook or Google account).
From there, you can search and connect with pros in your area, see their reviews and view cost estimates for just about any service. There’s no task too big or too small for the pros at Thumbtack. They’re able to take on an assortment of home tasks, including plumbing, house cleaning, painting and repairs.