There are a number of ways for moisture to enter your home or business. If you don’t keep up on your caulking maintenance, water damage can have a devastating effect on your Toronto property. Sometimes water damage is being done and it is impossible to know it is happening until the damage is done and you are being faced with those horrendous bills for structural repairs. Don’t let this worst-case scenario happen to you by reading more on the topic and what you can do to prevent it!
How Does Structural Damage Occur?
Since water penetration is the number one enemy of structural walls (barring perhaps a bad case of termites), any form of moisture leakage can pose a serious threat. These leaks can lead to the deterioration and/or crumbling of a wide variety of building materials including brick, wood, stucco, concrete, and precast. Since structural damage is internal, these leaks could be taking their toll for a long period of time before you are faced with the repercussions. The best thing to do to prevent these kind of leaks is to make sure your property is sealed with a fresh application of airtight and waterproof caulk.
Will Caulking Really Prevent Water Damage?
For the most part. While there are many ways water damage can occur in a building, caulking can prevent the majority of external moisture from making its way into your property. Caulking acts as a sort of weather barrier that will stop the Toronto rain, sleet, and snowfall from penetrating the little cracks that may exist inside and outside of your property. Of course, caulking your home or business costs money, but ensuring that your property’s fundamental structure is not damaged by moisture is an invaluable investment. Defending against the mold that comes with moisture is another benefit to caulking.
Hasn’t My Property Already Been Caulked?
The one downfall of caulking is that it does not last forever. While caulk technology has advanced significantly over the years, it still needs to be reapplied every now and then. Depending on the age of your property, you may not need caulking at all. Many buildings do require some kind of sealant touch-up though and occasionally a poor caulking job needs to be remedied. The weather can also eat away at exterior caulking over time and inevitably cause it to deteriorate. The same can be said for interior caulking that is subjected to the wear and tear of a high-traffic area. Ultimately, you can never predict when your caulking will become ineffectual, so it is best to inspect your home every now and then. Remember that excess mold and moisture can sometimes be a sign of worn away caulking.
Avoid structural damage and the time and money that it will cost you in the long-term. When your property is appropriately sealed, its structural walls should last for decades upon decades with no issues. The only thing you need to remember is caulking maintenance! If you are concerned about a possible moisture breach in your home or business, consider contacting Horizon Construction immediately to help with the re-caulking of your Toronto property.