5 Ways Water Destroys Your Home and Commercial Buildings

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Although we cannot live without water, no one can deny that it might sometimes be destructive. Every year, thousands of home and business owners pay hundreds of dollars to fix water damage. In fact, water is the first reason behind the severe structural damage that leads to collapsed buildings. Because it is your responsibility to keep your property free of any potential hazards, you must know the ways water can damage your building, so check out the next few points for better understanding.

1.    Rain Damage

Rain is most probably the main reason behind water damage. In rainy areas, buildings are more susceptible to damage due to continuous exposure to water. However, mostly, the damage stays limited to roofs in particular. That does not mean that brain damage is a joking matter. On the contrary, due to the direct exposure to water, roofs can weaken over time and even collapse, which can put the people who are inside the building at risk. Fortunately, it is not all doom and gloom. Rain damage can be easily contained if you know what to look for. Any signs of leaks should be dealt with immediately to prevent any further damage. Also, if you cannot find the source of the leak, contact a professional to get it sorted out.

2.    Erosion

While rain damage can be clearly spotted, erosion is another matter altogether. Generally, you will not notice that your building is eroded until it is too late, as the signs cannot be easily detected. When a building is exposed to water and is not properly designed to expel it, the water can gradually destroy its foundations. Dirty drains and poorly designed downspouts are to blame. So, you have to start using a professional to clean your drains and ensure the structural integrity of your property. Moreover, mold and mildew can grow in such damp conditions and cause severe allergic reactions, so it is always better to quickly deal with the problem. In addition to causing erosion, dirty drains can create a fertile environment for pests, which can cause damage by eating at wooden constructions. To pinpoint this problem, if you notice a musty smell or leaky pipes, then you should check your drains. Thus, you can prevent erosion from destroying your property.

3.    Steam

Yes, your daily hot shower can damage the foundations of your building. Although most think that this is unlikely to happen, steam can greatly impact the safety of your house and cause cracks in the walls. The science behind this is that when bathrooms are not properly designed with waterproofing precautions, the ceramic tiles cannot repel the water when it condenses. So, steam leaks in the walls and ceiling of the bathroom and other rooms near it. Therefore, you will see water running down the walls, leading to cracks and structural hazards. To prevent this, make sure to waterproof your bathroom and any other room that is directly exposed to steam.

4.    Air Leaks

Air leaks are the primary cause of water damage in humid areas. Put simply, the humid air dumps moisture on cold surfaces. This issue gets worse after a while, which puts your property at risk due to the damage the water can cause. Air leaks can also cause rot, mold, and mildew, which all negatively impact the structural integrity of the building. Nevertheless, you can discover this problem easily by conducting the blower door test. This test can evaluate the airflow inside the building and effectively detect air leaks, thus helping you avoid further damage. Also, you can prevent air leaks altogether by making sure that your property is properly insulated.

5.    Salt Damage

If your building is close to the coastline or underground water, then you might notice this type of damage. Salt weathering is a process where salt is deposited on the exterior of the building and eats away at the concrete and other building materials. Although the building may not collapse except after many years of exposure to salt, you should always pay attention to this problem before it gets worse. Moreover, when underground water and salt mix together, the risk increases because this salty water can seep into the building and destroy its foundations, making it collapse. Using a water repellent sealer like lithium silicate can help stop the damage in its tracks by creating a protective layer that prevents salt from impacting the building.

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Water damage can be annoying to deal with, especially if you do not know the many ways water can destroy your property. From rain and floods to steam and air leaks, water damage comes in many forms. So, by understanding the above points, you can now protect your property and keep everyone in it safe without any undue effort.