Tips from the Expert: Spotting and Preventing Water and Ice “Dam”age

(BOSTON, MA) With no end to falling snow in sight, many homeowners across New England are dealing with ice dams and the damage they have created inside their homes. With days-long waits for roofers to remediate the dams, homeowners are seeking ways to minimize the water damage to ceilings, walls and floors.

Construction expert, David Supple, of New England Design & Construction, offers tips on how to minimize the damage inside your home.  “Water is sneaky. After the ice creeps through the small cracks in your roof that the weather has created it melts and finds its way through your ceilings and walls. How you deal with it can mean the difference between a do-it-yourself clean up and a costly renovation.”

Here are just a couple of the ideas that David recommended to minimize water/ice damage:

• Flooring is more expensive to replace than sheetrock so protect the floors first. Sop up the water before hard woods start buckling.  If you have carpet, roll it up, even if it’s wall-to-wall.  The padding can be inexpensively replaced, but homeowners should try and save the carpet.
• If there’s obvious water damage on the ceiling, break a hole in it and try and catch the water in a bucket.  It’s better to have a hole in the drywall than mold issues as a result of moisture hidden behind the walls.
• New England is known for its historic homes and custom woodwork. Drywall damage must be cut away, but the wood in any custom molding can be sanded and cleaned to prevent mold growth. A mixture of ½ bleach and ½ water can be used to wash sanded wood, and the wood refinished to match.
• The long term solution to prevent ice dams from forming is to create a “cold” roof. This can be accomplished by insulating between the rafters of your roof, which is a service that should be included in any renovation effort to mitigate extensive damage.

New England Design and Construction (NEDC) is a design-build firm, located in the heart of Boston, specializing in turnkey solutions for kitchen, bathroom and whole-home remodeling. NEDC provides concept-to-completion remodeling by offering architecture and design experts working as a single collaborative team with a dedicated crew of construction professionals.  NEDC is a collaboration of bright, passionate, and creative individuals who firmly believe that well-designed and constructed spaces can lift your spirit.

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 As heard on WBZ Radio 2/15/15 in an interview with David Supple!