The Fall period in our lovely city of Los Angeles is a wonderful season: the weather becomes more temperate, we start to wear a jacket at night when the temperatures drop, and we get our Halloween costumes and candy ready for trick or treating! For many of us, the Fall is also a perfect time to prepare our home’s landscape and hardscape for the rainy season which will soon come!
There are some important maintenance tasks that every property owner should undertake before it starts to rain. Much in the same way that you wouldn’t drive your car in the rain without proper windshield wipers, you shouldn’t neglect preparing your property for the rainy season! If you procrastinate, you are taking a chance on things going wrong. Here’s your checklist:
Inspect how water is draining away from your home!
In our region, it’s very common for rains to cause water to collect in and around homes. Such water intrusion can trigger a life-threatening mold and mildew invasion, and even impact the home’s concrete foundation, causing it to crack and sink, and your home to shift or crack. As such, it’s very important for you to make sure that your landscaping prevents water from pooling around your home and instead, drains water away from your foundation and property. There are many drainage solutions to choose from, for example, French drainage installation, area drains, channel drains, catch basins, flow wells, and sump pumps, and you should seek professional advice on this subject from drain contractors!
Inspect your basement and crawlspace!
Your home’s basement and crawlspace (the area beneath your first floor) are especially vulnerable to damage from moisture, mold, mildew, termites, and even the occasional dead critter! Such areas should be inspected to make sure that they are clean and dry and when necessary, you should reach out to basement waterproofing companies to enquire about basement waterproofing, leaky basement repair, or basement wall sealing. To protect basements and crawlspaces, many homeowners choose to install a Waterguard system and a crawlspace “encapsulation” system that seals and protects from moisture and assault by pests and critters.
Seal your hardscaping!
Your driveways, walkways, patio, and even your retaining walls likely have porous joints and surfaces that can easily soak up rain water. If such surfaces slope toward your home, they can be funneling rainwater directly into your basement. If such surfaces are cracked, they will let water inside and this can cause lifting and buckling, or at the very least, reduce the lifetime of the surface. Check for cracks and reseal such joints and surfaces with appropriate, professional-grade sealants. Weinstein Construction is the LA region’s most specialized retaining walls contractor and backyard drainage contractors – give us a call to discuss your needs!
Collect all leaves and debris!
Leaving mountains of soggy leaves, twigs, and other debris on your lawn can lead to mold, mildew, and damage to your lawn. An easy way to prevent grass disease and unwanted water runoff is to make sure that all debris is off your lawn before the rains come! Before rains arrives, aerate your lawn and re-seed where needed.
Check all metal surfaces!
Water and humidity are metal-killers. If you leave metal fixtures (for example, enclosures, furniture, barbecues, gates, railing, or tools) without paying them any attention, they will deteriorate, rust, and leave rust stains behind. To make sure your metal fixtures perform at their best, inspect them, lightly sand away rust spots, then follow-up by applying industrial-grade metal primer and paint that is specially-formulated to preserve and inhibit rust.
Clean your gutters!
Gutters that are clogged with leaves, twigs, and debris can flood and allow water into your home, and so take some time to make sure that all your gutters and downspouts are clear, and that water can flow out and away from your home. This is also a good time to make sure that your downspouts have pipes that can redirect water to a drainage system.
Treat wood surfaces!
Your home’s outdoor wood surfaces, for example wooden steps or wood decks, are especially vulnerable to water damage and can warp or raise fairly quickly. All such surfaces must be inspected for damage, and if necessary, replacement wood boards should be cut and installed. Be prepared to have the overall structure sanded, stained, treated, and sealed with a new protective coating every few years.
Here’s more good news!
The professionals at Weinstein Construction are experts in waterproofing a basement wall, installing drainage systems, fitting crawlspace encapsulation systems, waterproofing and foundation repair, and basement foundation waterproofing. call Weinstein Construction today at (800) 862-6582 for a free inspection and review of your Rainy Season needs.
