How Will Water Damage Affect Your Historic North Nashville Home?

11/6/2023 (Permalink)

How Will Water Damage Affect Your Historic North Nashville Home?

Nashville is home to many beautiful historic homes, many of which are located in the northern part of the city. You may be a proud owner of one of these historic houses! 

Historic homes require special attention to keep them in good condition, so today, we would like to talk about how water damage - a common problem in every home - can affect your historic house and how to keep it safe from this type of issue. 

What Will Water Damage Do To My Historic House?

Water damage is an issue in homes, both new and old. Here are a few ways water can create problems in an older home:

• Plumbing systems are subject to damage and deterioration because of age and possible improper maintenance. As pipes age, more cracks and other severe deteriorations can occur, and these can cause significant water damage and potential mold infestation.
• The foundations of most older and historic buildings are masonry. Stone foundation walls with soft lime mortar are very durable, but the lime mortar does not hold up well to water erosion.
• Water currents and water traveling as underground "streams" can erode soil beneath foundation walls and footings. Although this situation is not common, when it does occur, the building's foundation will be destabilized, and repairs will be necessary. Evidence of structural destabilization is the appearance of cracks in the foundation walls and plaster or drywall above the foundations.
• Erosion from running water can also affect paving and sidewalks. From a building conservation perspective, the worst problem occurs when eroded slabs of asphalt or concrete channel water into, rather than away, from buildings. As with soil erosion, this can lead to water problems from future rains.

How Can I Keep My North Nashville Historic Home Safe From Water Damage?

Regular maintenance is always the best protection against damage to a home of any age.

• If your plumbing is original, it may be time to replace it. Older homes often have outdated plumbing, making them more prone to water damage and internal malfunctions.
• Proper surface and subsurface drainage lead water away from your foundation through grading and drains.
• Water damage to old brick is caused by splashback (continuous rain beating against the brick) or rising dampness (groundwater seeping up and into brick walls), leaving behind a tide line. The moisture above the tide line will evaporate eventually, but the remaining salt crystals will cause the mortar and bricks to break down over time.
• Clean your gutters regularly. A clogged gutter sends water cascading down the side of your house, further damaging the mortar joints and bricks.

SERVPRO of North Nashville can be onsite at your North Nashville home immediately to help with any emergency you have experienced. In addition to water damage, we handle fire damage, mold infestations, odor removal and deodorization, and much more. Call us at (615) 242-9391 or contact us via our website for more information.

This franchise is independently owned and operated.