Owning your own home is a serious milestone. If you’ve managed to own your own custom home, that’s an even more exciting prospect. Having a home that’s built so it’s just right for you can make it feel more like your home than any others you may have had before. Considering how much you’ve paid for your home, it makes sense to want to keep it in as good a condition as possible. That means you’ll need to take steps to prevent structural damage from happening.

Don’t Build Cheaply

There’s a reason why people say that you get what you pay for in many instances. While it may be tempting to cut costs by taking shortcuts and using cheap building materials, your best move when it comes to the structure of your home is to invest in durable, quality materials. Use sturdy materials that are intended to last for a long time. The stronger they are, the better your home will withstand structural damage. Leave the cost-saving material choices to things like choosing your countertops and different flooring options .

Take Care of Water Damage

The nature of water is such that over time it will eventually wear away even the strongest materials. If you notice water damage in your home, it’s important to address it immediately. The longer it’s allowed to sit, the worse the problem will get. Water will promote the growth of mold and weaken the structure of your home, especially the parts that are made of wood. When wood weakens, it becomes more susceptible to further damage, such as what can be done by pests like termites. Termites are one of the most destructive pests to your home because they eat your damaged wood. Between the damage done by the water and the termites, your home could be in serious trouble.

Redirect Water

It’s often easier to prevent damage from happening than it is to repair it after the fact. There’s no way to get around your home being exposed to water to some extent, but you can find ways to redirect it so it’s less likely to cause serious damage. Making sure your gutters are clean is a good place to start. Beyond that, make sure your downspouts are effectively directing water away from your home. They should extend a minimum of four feet from your home. If yours don’t go far enough, you may find it necessary to extend your downspouts to carry water further from your home’s foundation.

Preventing structural damage from being done to your home is an important part of being a homeowner, even though it may not be something you think about often. Fortunately, it isn’t something you should have to put serious effort into very often at all. Taking measures such as using quality materials, taking care of any water damage immediately, and redirecting water away from your home can make it easier to keep your home in a structurally sound state. Keep on top of this and other home maintenance to ensure that you are able to enjoy your new home for years to come.

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