Water is one of the most powerful forces on earth and can cause major damage to your home. We’ve outlined some ways to detect and prevent water damage from roof leaks and flooding.

The Risks

Water damage can cause black mold growth, ruin your insulation, rot wooden framing, and compromise your home’s foundation, all of which can cost thousands in repairs and jeopardize your family’s safety. When water seeps into your home, it can discolor and stain your ceiling, floors, or walls. If you notice these or other signs of water intrusion, you should inspect your home to determine the cause. 

What causes flooding?

Your rain-carrying system is designed to properly channel runoff water away from the foundation of your home to prevent flooding. Downspouts that are installed too close to your house or that drain toward the basement wall can cause water to pool and erode the soil. In the winter, snow and ice can clog gutters so that they overflow and allow runoff to cascade down your home’s siding and puddle near the foundation. If you have a cracked foundation or poor sealing, low-lying areas in your home like basements or cellars can flood.

What causes roof leaks?

Roof leaks are often caused by damaged or worn roofing materials. The sun can melt the tar that seals shingles together, and shingles may become brittle and crack or rip off entirely from high winds. Rusted flashing, the strip of metal designed to seal joints where the roof meets a wall or chimney, may expose your home to moisture. Damaged boots around vent pipes and corroded mortar on brick chimneys are another culprit. Heavy, clogged gutters may damage the eaves of your roof, causing your soffit and fascia boards to rot. Ice dams allow water to pool on the roof and potentially seep into your home.

How can you prevent roof leaks and flooding?

It’s better to prevent roof leaks and flooding than deal with the aftermath of water damage. Spotless & Seamless Exteriors offers clog-free gutters with a Superspout™ that provides 50 percent more drainage than conventional downspouts. This revolutionary rain-carrying system protects your home from ice dams and flooding.

As a Twin Cities roofing contractor, we offer asphalt and metal roofing, so you can replace your old, worn-out roof and protect your home this season. We also provide routine roofing inspection and repair services so you can maintain your roof and avoid costly damage to your home.

We are a top Minnesota steel siding contractor, offering siding replacement and repair to residents throughout the Minneapolis metro. Steel siding is installed in custom-fit boards that eliminate seams. This airtight seal protects your home from moisture intrusion.

Contact us for more home exterior solutions.

We all know that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But most of us judge a home by its curb appeal—the attractiveness of a home’s exterior, as viewed from the street. Even though the outside of a home doesn’t sum up what’s on the inside, the material you choose to cover your home can affect the HVAC system and the safety of your interior walls from the elements. The right siding for your home can enhance its curb appeal, save you money, and shorten your ever-growing list of home maintenance chores. Learn why we recommend seamless steel siding.

The purpose of siding

At the very least, the exterior of a home—the siding—should protect its occupants, foundational structure, and ventilation systems from the elements. There are numerous factors you should consider when choosing exterior materials:

• Water resistance
• Ease of installation
• Energy efficiency
• Aesthetics
• Versatility
• Durability

Different types of siding

Homeowners can choose from a variety of siding materials, the most common being vinyl, brick, stone, stucco, fiber cement, wood, and stainless steel. Each varies in cost, durability, style, energy efficiency, and required maintenance.

Vinyl – By far the most widely-used exterior of modern homes, vinyl siding is made in panels or shingles, resulting in visible seams. The siding can melt in fires, be pulled off by the wind, or crack in cold temperatures.

Brick – Environmentally friendly and noncombustible, brick siding is the most expensive of the home cladding materials. Mortar may need to be replaced to seal out moisture, and because brick is porous, it can crumble without proper water drainage.

Stone – Unlike brick, stone is non-porous, making it moisture resistant. Stone is a completely natural, virtually indestructible material, but stone cladding is expensive to install. If improperly applied, the mortar can crack.

Stucco – Made of Portland cement, sand, lime, and water, stucco can be shaped and textured to cover curves in architecture and completely seal corners. Stucco application requires multiple layers and can crack if the foundation shifts.

Fiber cement – Made with cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, fiber cement looks like wood but lasts longer and requires less maintenance. Fiber cement can be difficult and expensive to install.

Wood – Wood presents a variety of style options, including logs, panels, or bevel siding made from pine, spruce, fir, cedar, or redwood. Wood can crack, split, warp, rot in excessive moisture, and burn quickly in the event of a fire. If painted, the color will fade or peel over time.

Seamless Steel Siding

Steel siding is an ultra-durable option, ideal for protection against snow, sleet, frost, rain, and wind. Spotless & Seamless steel siding is applied to the home without ugly seams, maintains its look indefinitely, and can be painted or recycled. It doesn’t absorb moisture or feed insects. Steel siding can be expensive, but unlike aluminum, steel retains its color and does not dent easily. Some textures resemble wood.

The best siding will protect your home from the extreme cold of winter, summer humidity, and unpredictable storms. At Spotless & Seamless Exteriors, your local steel siding contractor, we believe you can guard your home against the elements, save money on maintenance in the long run, and add to its curb appeal. That’s why we specialize in installing seamless steel siding for Minnesota homeowners to enjoy for years to come. View some of our metal siding projects.

Contact your Maple Grove siding contractor today to learn more.