If you own the home you are currently living in, one of the best things that you can do to prevent this damage is to learn how to direct runoff water away from your home.

If you live in a rainy climate or even a snowy one (even snow melts eventually in most places), you should take special care to protect the structural integrity of your home.

This is best done by making sure that you have good surface drainage outside of your home and this involves your roof, gutters, and downspouts.

Downspout extensions also need to be paid attention to and you need to make sure that they direct water as far as possible from your homes foundation.

Making sure your roof is properly angled according to where you live. Roofs with higher pitches are the most common in areas where snow tends to be heavy.

Because snow can easily slide off the roof instead of being allowed to sit there and not only stress your roof because of the weight, but when it starts to melt, it will cause the water damage you are trying to avoid.

Water should not be allowed to accumulate on your roof for any period of time and this is why your roof should be angled so the water will run into the gutters.

The gutters to your home should be large enough to handle heavy amounts of rainfall, especially if you live in an area where heavy rain is common.

They should also be cleaned out on a regular basis and be free of clogs of any kind. It might not be a fun home improvement activity for you or anyone you hire to do it for you, but doing this as opposed to having to repair water damage to your home will save you money in the long run.

The downspouts that are connected to your gutters are what directs the water from the gutters down to the ground where a downspout extension should be located.

This is to make sure the water from your roof does not collect around your foundation. These are normally located around the corners of the home, but can be found in other areas.

The easier it is for water to get away from your home, the more money you will end up saving in the future.