Water damage in a house, if left untreated, can turn into a catastrophe. While some of the indications of water damage are apparent, like leakage from a pipe or visible watercolor marks, others are more secretive, silently compromising your property’s integrity. The sooner you discover these subtle signs, the sooner you may save yourself from costly repairs and the hassles connected with basement remodeling. Here’s how to identify these surreptitious signs of water damage and how to act on them should they appear in your home.
7 hidden signs of water damage
1. Musty Odors
You might have a lingering, musty odor emanating from your home, particularly in the basement or attic. This may be evidence of water damage. The mold works much better in damp areas and usually accompanies a hidden leak. Yellowing or staining on walls or ceilings indicates moisture accumulation and could require restoration of water damage.
2. Yellowing or Stains on Walls and Ceilings
Pale yellow, brown, or dark stains on your walls or ceilings are signs of water damage. These usually occur from leaks around plumbing, roofs, and pipes that may be concealed behind walls. Such signs call for immediate action to prevent further damage and thus require a water damage restoration service.
3. Warping or Bubbling of Paint and Wallpaper
Bubbling, peeling, or wet-splashed paint or wallpaper is a symptom of a slow leak or high humidity above average. Don’t disregard this symptom as normal in naturally more humid areas, like bathrooms and basements.
Ignoring these signs during early stages can turn into much serious repairs if any basement remodeling is to be done. Water behind walls will seep and destroy insulation, framing, and maybe wiring. Professionals will, therefore, strongly suggest looking at hidden areas before fighting a major remodeling job to find out if work must be done again once a leak is revealed.
4. Utility Bills Suddenly Increasing
Any sudden rise in your water bill may signal an invisible leak behind it. Look for less obvious signs of water damage, such as behind appliances and inside walls. A professional examination can best point out such areas to locate the cause and stop further escalation.
Many times homeowners detect these leaks only after witnessing an increase in bills. Partnering with water damage restoration experts means that the area of the leak gets repaired and the moisture damage on the side is also addressed. This way, mold issues that recur will be prevented and will protect your investment for any slab-on-grade renovation to be carried out on the premises.
5. Structural Damage or Sagging Floors
The water slowly weakens the very foundation and structure of your house. Sagging floors, warped wood, or wall cracks are all symptoms of more serious, hidden water damage. Thankfully, most of these issues must be resolved soon, especially during basement renovation, since weakened structures impede renovation work.
6. Mold or Mildew Appearance
Mold and mildew growth, even small patches, means too much moisture. Unless treated, it will spread. It then becomes a health concern and thus an attack on the home environment, needing to be treated quickly with professional water damage services.
7. Visible Damage to Flooring or Carpeting
The signs of water damage include spongy and soft spots on the hardwood floors and damp carpets. The basement signs may result from poor drainage or water seepage, hence the need for full inspections before remodeling a basement.
Conclusion
When planning for a basement remodeling, one of the first steps that should be included is inspection for water damage. Working on areas that are affected by moisture creates a trap for humidity and with time gives rise to problems like mold growth and weakened framing. Preventing such defects will allow your basement to be a safe and useful living space without any maintenance recurring in the future.
Early detection can save one from heavy repairs, for the safety and worth of that home will still be kept. So, if water damage is suspected in that house, you need to look for professionals who can assess the condition and offer feasible solutions accordingly.
At Kellington Remodeling & Restoration, LLC, we provide both water damage restoration and remodeling services. At Kellington, our experienced professionals deal with leaky basements, undertake water-damaged area remodeling projects, and even do total basement remodeling for you. Let us help protect your home today from these hidden risks of water damage!