Utah Home Inspection -Your house and water runoff
Your house and water runoff – Utah Home Inspection
During a Utah home inspection, one thing that is important to think about as a home owner is water runoff. Without the proper components there are several areas that could be a point of entry for water intrusion into your home.
Start at the top!
When we think of water intrusion, the first thing most of us consider is the roof. What condition are the shingles in? Are there any missing? Were they installed correctly from the beginning? What about the flashing? I find improper flashing all the time, and they need to be repaired as soon as they are discovered. The potential for an ice damn needs to be monitored and taken care of. The drip edge forces water away from the fascia and if damaged, it could cause leaking down the walls all the way inside to the basement.
The rain gutters
The rain gutters, if in good and clean condition, serve as a water collection system that if properly installed forces the water runoff away from the home. Damage, loose connections, missing downspouts and the lack of extension tubes or splash blocks could all lead to water damage or intrusion. We recommend that you clean your rain gutters as necessary.
Grading
When it rains or snows the water it produces has to go somewhere. So it is absolutely vital that the grading around the house slopes away from the foundation. The recommended slope is 6 inches for 10 feet away from the foundation. If the grade around the foundation is negative, or slopes towards the house, runoff water will flow towards the house and when it seeps into the ground it will find somewhere to go. If the foundation has any cracking it is possible the water could go into the basement of the house. Therefore it is important to pay attention to your grading.
Water is the biggest enemy to a house. Reliable Home Inspections recommends that you visually inspect these components to your house often.
Chris Lynch is the owner/operator of Reliable Home Inspections based in Salt Lake County and services Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Weber, Tooele and Summit Counties.