We’re well into the fall, and if we are lucky, we will receive some good rains this year. Every home needs to be maintained, even in the California climate where there are no severe seasons. The summer heat is our biggest destroyer in Santa Clarita, but we see the most damage from rains, especially when properties are not maintained. Add those two up (summer heat and lack of maintenance), and the rains can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
We see a lot of leaks on south-facing sides, especially if stucco and old windows are involved. The heat, over time, destroys building materials. If windows or the seal around them fails, water intrusion happens and eventually the waterproofing paper behind the stucco deteriorates and allows water inside the home. Windows, doors and the trim around all of these should be maintained or, at the very least, inspected, annually. If any failures are noted, proper sealing should be done.
If any wood is exposed due to paint failure, now is the time to get that repainted and sealed back up.
It is a good time now to inspect area drains in and around the yard and pool. Water should flow well from these, out to the curb. Any obstruction in area drains can lead to flooding of yards and, if conditions are such, a backup could lead to flooding inside the home.
Gutters should be cleaned, especially during and after our fall winds, or just prior to rains coming in. Backed-up gutters can overflow onto roofs and potentially lead to leaking inside the home. When cleaning gutters, be sure to check the flow of the downspout. I’ve seen many clogged downspouts, due to both debris and nests.
Trees should be inspected for health and trimmed properly so they maintain strength. Dying trees have the potential of losing limbs during winds, and if close enough to a home, causing damage.
Look at the roof and note if any shingles are broken or missing, If so, get those replaced immediately. Now is the time instead of finding out the hard way.
Holidays are prime time for clogged plumbing, due to a lot of fats being dumped down kitchen sinks/garbage disposals. First, I cannot stress enough, any grease should be deposited into the waste can and not down drains. Second, be sure that drains are all flowing well and, if not, get a plumber in ahead of time before any backups happen. Emergency plumbing calls can be very expensive, especially on holiday weekends.
Enjoy all of the upcoming holidays. Best of luck for no emergencies.
Robert Lamoureux has more than 40 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at [email protected].
