All home owners know that in order to maintain the value of a house it must be inspected and kept up well. When it is not it will only mean that we will not be able to sell it for as money if we ever decide to. Home inspections inside and out, should be conducted at least yearly and no places should be overlooked.

With the doors on the home, which we open and close regularly, water issues will not go unnoticed for very long, but with less frequently used doors and windows, water damage can take place slowly over time and evade our awareness all together. It is important to add windows and doors to that scheduled check list if they are not on it.

So, what should you do when you see a window or door that water is causing destruction to? That depends on how much devastation has already occurred. If doors are exposed to a vast amount of moisture or streaming water, if the door is wood, it might make the door and the frame swell up. This will gradually cause the door to stick or not open or close properly. Water might be coming down the exterior wall and soaking the door in bad weather. You must find the problem and remedy whatever is necessary to stop it. It can cause rusting on metal doors and frames over long periods of time. Some prevention is much better than to put off repairing the problem and having to replace a brand new door and jam.

Windows exposed to too much water will cause the same harm. Faulty gutters can sometimes be the culprit that exposes the doors and windows to excessive water. With wooden windows, damage might happen fairly quickly. They also will swell shut and may not be opened at all.

Caulking that is old can slowly wither up and turn loose from the building, window panes, and doors and allow water in around the edges. Maintaining these places that need caulking is essential. Make sure you use the correct caulking for outdoor surfaces.

It is especially made for weather proofing and repelling water. It stops it from getting in around the installation areas. Vinyl windows also have to be caulked around installation areas. It can take longer to damage a metal door or window, but it could still need to be repaired or replaced if it rusts out.