October 23, 1997 - When it rains, it pours: a few simple things to do around the house may get your home through the rainy season
When forecasters announced that hurricane Linda's whipping winds and battering rains
were heading toward Southern California, hardware stores and home repair warehouses made
ready. Managers moved their stocks of plastic covers, caulking and other water repelling
items to the front of their stores for easy customer access. Some even offered sand bags.
Yet, despite the threat of torrential rains and flash flooding, perhaps the worst in
decades, it seemed many Orange County homeowners didn't take the storm seriously. Luckily
for them Linda gyrated westward at the last minute, sending only scattered showers into
Orange County.
Although Hurricane Linda spared Orange County, the El Niño conditions present in the
Pacific this year have weather forecasters predicting an unusually wet winter for Southern
California residents.
Jim O'Mara, owner of San Clemente-based O'Mara Construction, said homeowners should
prepare for winter's onslaught now.
"Homeowners shouldn't wait until it rains to find out they have a leaky roof,
gutters, or caulking," O'Mara said. "Each fall, homeowners should inspect their
homes for needed repairs. Waiting for the rain to pinpoint leaks will end up costing
homeowners more time and money than if they tackled the repairs before the rain moves
in."
Pam Stephanson, customer service manager for The Home Depot in Mission Viejo, agrees
that fall is a good time for homeowners to check for, and repair, potential leakage and
drainage problems.
"Homeowners should anticipate the worst beforehand," Stephenson said,
"because when their roof starts leaking in the middle of the night, we're not going
to be open to help."
So what should homeowners do to prepare and protect their residences against winter
winds and rain?
O'Mara said homeowners should at least inspect their roofs for potential leaks, clean
and repair gutters, and repair and paint any exterior raw wood or woodwork that is flaking
or chipping.
Inspecting the exterior of a roof:
According to The Stanley Complete Step-by-Step Book of Home Repair and Improvement
(Simon & Shuster), "a roof takes a terrific beating from sun, rain and wind. As a
result, roof coverings need periodic attention."
O'Mara suggests that homeowners inspect their roof at least once a year. Roofs should
also be inspected from the outside and inside. Homeowners who choose to inspect their own
roofs should do so from ladders. Walking on a roof can be dangerous as well as damaging to
shingles and tiles. However, in some cases, closer inspection may be necessary. If you do
climb onto an asphalt or wood-shingled roof, wear soft rubber sole shoes. Not only will
the rubber offer a better grip, it will also reduce damage to shingles.
Homeowners should not climb on tile or slate roofs. O'Mara, the Stanley book and The
New York Times Complete Manual of Home Repair (Times Books) recommend calling a roofing
professional to inspect and repair a tile or slate roof. The only repairs a homeowner
should make to these roofs are to cracked tiles that can be reached from a ladder. Cracks
in slate or tile can be mended with roofing cement.
Asphalt, wood or shake shingles that are cracked, curled or missing should be replaced.
Also, check for loose nails. Check that the flashing along vent slacks, valleys, chimneys
and skylights is in good repair, not bent, missing or rusted. Roof cement used as a seal
around vents, chimneys, etc., should also be in good condition.
Inspecting gutters and down spouts
While on the ladder, inspect and clean out gutters and down spouts.
"You can clear loose, dry leaves with a hand-held blower," recommends
Stanley. "For buildup of leaves, work soon after a rain, when leaves and debris are
damp and pliable. Start at the outlet and work toward the high end, using a trowel to
scoop up the debris and deposit in a bucket."
If a downspout appears clogged or drains slowly, and the spout opens out onto the
ground, tap the down spout gently to loosen debris, then flush the down spout with water.
However, if the down spout is connected to an underground drain tile (pipe), detach the
down spout from the underground piping before trying to remove a clog. Trying to flush a
clogged down spout into underground piping may push the clog further down to where you may
need an auger or plumber to remove the clog.
"To make certain the water will run off harmlessly, you should try to rearrange
the portion of your down spout so that water is discharged onto a nearby patio, walk,
driveway or other paved area," states The New York Times manual. "When down
spouts empty into plant beds or lawn areas, splashboards or pans can be installed to
direct water off to one side."
To prevent leaf buildup in gutters, Stephanson recommends installing ready-made gutter
guards or protectors that are available at Home Depot as well as most hardware stores and
home repair/remodeling warehouses. Once the gutters are clean, check for leaky seams and
holes. Minor holes or leaks can be patched with gutter caulk. Also, check that the gutters
are firmly attached to the house.
Inspection the interior of a roof
After inspecting a roof from the outside, homeowners should move inside and inspect the
interior side of the roof. If the interior of the roof is unfinished, such as in an attic,
look for bits of daylight streaming through the roof. Also, look for water stains of
rafters, chimney bricks and insulation. Although you may find evidence of a leak,
pinpointing the exact location of the leak can be tricky. Water can run along flashing or
under shingles and eves before it dribbles into a home.
For many homeowners, usually the first sign of a leak appears as a yellow or brown
water stain on a ceiling or running down a wall.
The bigger the stain, the bigger the leak," said O'Mara. "Even small stains,
an inch or two in diameter, should not be ignored. The leak is not going to go away. The
longer you postpone repairs, the more it is going to cost."
Inspecting windows and doors
Moisture that leaks in around windows, doors, joints and seams can also do extensive
damage before being revealed as drips, stains, flaking paint or standing water. If enough
water seeps in between the walls, the moisture can promote wood rot. In addition,
saturated wood attracts termites.
"Water, wood and termites go hand-in-hand," said O'Mara. "It seems like
whenever you get water into the framing, termites quickly follow. It's almost like the wet
wood invites the termites in."
Subterranean termites are common in Southern California, and build their colonies in
damp underground locations, wherever a source of wood (their principal food) is available
in the soil. Termites have no trouble tunneling through a water-softened wood beam. As a
result, their destructive eating habits can go undetected causing severe damage and
jeopardizing the structural integrity of a beam or board.
The Stanley book recommends using caulk to seal cracks and joints between unlike
material, i.e., where brick or stucco joins wood, and around major components like windows
and door frames, between exterior steps, and between vertical trim and horizontal siding .
"Caulking compound, properly applied and periodically renewed, can be one of the
homeowner's most effective weapons in protecting his home from the ravages of
weather," states the Times manual. "It not only serves to keep out moisture,
cold drafts and insects, it also prevents heat loss in the wintertime, thus helping to
lower fuel bills considerably."
Lastly, O'Mara suggests homeowners paint any unfinished exterior wood surfaces that
are chipping or flaking.
"Exposed wood is so vulnerable to weather," said O'Mara, who was touching up
the exterior wood surfaces of his home when contacted for this interview. "I often
see wood that has not been prepped or painted on the top, like patio covers and the tops
and bottoms of doors, places you can't see, places that are hard to get to."
For homeowners who don't like to do regular exterior maintenance, O'Mara recommends
they purchase aluminum clad doors and windows. Aluminum clad doors and windows consist of
a wood frame covered with aluminum, which makes the window or door more weather resistant,
but offers a wood appearance. Aluminum clad windows come factory finished and are
available in a variety of colors.
"Aluminum clad windows and doors cost more, but they weather better, require less
maintenance and last longer," he said. "I'm not going to put any more raw wood
on the outside of homes if I can help it."
Whether you are your own handyman or prefer to have contractors do home inspections and
repair, now is the time to protect your home and furnishings from the winter deluge
predicted for Southern California.
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