Taking Notice of your Attic
There are only a handful of times in a year some of us actually give much thought to our attic. We might think about them prior to the Christmas season if that is where we store our decorations or perhaps in the summer season if we are considering having a garage sale. Except for these occasions, we will not normally need to go up there at all.
There is another reason why we should venture into the attic at a time that might not appear to be the right time at all and that is when there is a fairly good down pour. You might think this is crazy, but it is really quite simple. When it is raining reasonably steady, it is the very best occasion to discover if you are having leaking up there. Often times when there are shingles on the housetop that have been loose long enough, the water will get under the tar paper and down in between the cracks where the wood in your attic is joined. The water will run down the wooden structures in the attic and can be seen pretty easily.
When you are smart and check the attic often enough, you can find leaks and realize where they are stemming from before any real water destruction has occurred. Repairing or putting on a few new shingles will be nothing when you consider putting on a whole new roof. Some times small roofing jobs like these might be remedied yourself if you are not wary of high places. All roof repairs can be risky, especially when your roof has a lot of slant to it. A lot of it is less dangerous for you to leave the roofing to more skilled specialists.
Another cause of water damage in your attic is from moisture. Condensation will many times develop if moist warm air filters up into your attic from the living space down below in the home. Large humidity levels in the house's living area can add to the condensation of moisture on the wood in an attic. With time this could develop rotting in the wood. There are three things that will help prevent this situation and they are adequate insulation of an attic floor, sealing around your attic door, and having exhaust fans in the bathrooms and kitchen. This should help to make the attic cooler and prevent the air from beneath the attic from damaging the wood upstairs. A little maintenance today can eliminate more cost and repair tomorrow.
Jim Corkern
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