Gutters and downspouts are the water management workhorse of your home. They work in tandem with the roof, flashing and siding to whisk water away from your home, and if you notice a leak inside the home, the first thing to check is the gutter system.

Gutters also contribute to the exterior design of your home, so much care should go into the selection of new guttering so it looks as good as it works. Here’s a primer on what to consider when it’s time to for new gutters.

When To Replace Gutters

Indicators that it’s time for new gutters include signs of overflow or clogging during heavy rains, loose or damaged sections, or a deteriorating finish. Whenever you install a new roof or siding is the perfect time to replace gutters as well, because it ensures that your water management system is correctly aligned.

Choosing the Proper Gutter System

The conditions on and around your home will guide you to the proper gutter. The exterior design of your house and the surrounding neighborhood inform the materials and style that look appropriate, while the amount of trees around your home, and the size, shape and pitch of your roof dictate proper gutter size and protection. Desired level of maintenance and your budget are the final factors to narrowing down your options.

Gutter Shapes & Materials

Gutter shape and material is primarily an aesthetic and budget decision. But because these factors affect how they are attached, the structure of your roof and fascia will also play a role. Downspouts need to coordinate with the gutters so also factor into your decision.

Gutter & Downspout Sizes

Proper sizing is crucial for effectively moving water away from your home. Standard sizes are 5” gutters with 2×3” downspouts or 6” gutters with 3×4” downspouts. Correct size is determined by the height and slope of your roof, which affects the speed and amount of water run-off.

Gutter Guards & Protection

Gutter guards and filtering systems reduce both the frequency of gutter cleaning and the potential for water blockage and overflow. Because there are several forms of gutter protection, it is best to understand the types of trees around your home and the shape of your roof to determine which system will work best.

Gutter Installation

The perfect gutter system for your home will ultimately fail if it is installed wrong. There are so many links in the chain of proper water management that skimping on even one facet can lead to water damage down the road. It is very important to work with a company that is deeply knowledgeable and committed to installing it correctly.

Because there are so many considerations when it comes to replacing your gutters and downspouts, it’s a smart idea to work with a firm that understands every aspect of water management, from roof to gutters to moving the water away from your home. The Consultants at Mosby Building Arts will survey your home and its surroundings to guide you to the best gutter system, and the Mosby craftsmen will ensure that it’s done right the first time.

To learn more about gutter replacement and installation, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

It’s a Law of Physics: Water is always looking for a way into your house. A quarter of your house exterior (roof, flashing, gutters, downspouts, and windows) is dedicated to fighting this inevitability.

Rain is the easiest water enemy to spot because we can see and hear it falling. And if you have a leak in your home, you can almost count the minutes from when the rain starts to when it shows up inside.

Snow and ice are the sly water enemy because it comes down from the sky as a solid, and in the case of snow, it lands gently and silently. Plus, it’s so picturesque.

But once the temperature heats up, snow and ice reverts back to water and creates a different kind of water damage threat because it’s akin to standing water. Snow and ice sit in the valleys of your roof melting slowly, which allows the water more time to find new crevices and channels that rain seldom has a chance to find. And the path of outside-to-inside for melting snow and ice tends to be less straightforward because of where it’s coming from.

As that blanket of snow and ice begins to melt, keep an eye out for slowly developing wet spots and stains on your ceilings, around windows and fireplace chimneys, as well as in your basement. Also keep an eye on your roof for developing ice dams.

Mosby Building Arts specializes in water management, your leak detectives that find out where and how the water infiltrates. They are also your solution for solving the water leak problem once and for all. Mosby Consultants and Carpenters have decades of experience working on Metro St. Louis homes of all ages, so they know the sly tricks water plays to get inside your home.

When melting snow and ice turns into water damage in your home, call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Rain, ice, snow and condensation cause water problems that often show up inside your home. When you see interior water damage, the first thought turns to the roof – is it leaking? But the roof is only one part of a system designed to keep water from infiltrating your home.

The roof is really only the uppermost part of a water protection system that keeps you dry. These components work in tandem to repel or move water to the ground, and it only takes the failure of one of these parts to allow water inside your home. Meaning, your roof can be in perfect shape, but if the gutters are malfunctioning you will eventually see water leaks indoors.

Your home’s water protection system consists of:

● Roof – shingles are like hundreds of well-placed umbrellas atop your home, keeping you dry and directing water toward the gutters, and a roof is only as good as its flashing. Click to learn more about types of roofing materials.

● Flashing – at the intersection of planes and wherever opposing materials meet on your roof is where water will try to get in. Strips of rust-resistant metal are installed in these areas to move water toward the gutters. Flashing is also installed around window and door openings. When flashing is applied wrong (known as reverse flashing) it will actually direct water toward the interior of the home.

● Gutters & Downspouts – gutters collect water coming off the roof and direct it to the downspouts which move the water away from the home’s foundation. Improper installation, damage (like a falling tree limb), being undersized or clogging can cause gutter malfunction, which causes water to backup and damage roof underlayment, soffits and fascia. Downspouts can become clogged or if they deposit waste water too close to the home this water can eventually seep through the foundation and into the basement.

● Siding – siding gives your house its distinctive look while serving double duty to keep water out and move it to the ground. Notice that siding planks are angled down so that water drips off them. Brick and stone facades have built-in channels and weep holes that keep water from making contact with the inner structure of the home. Improper installation of or damage to siding allows water inside.

● Windows – sometimes when it rains, you shut a window to keep rain from coming in. But even a closed window can let water in if it has improper flashing, was installed incorrectly or has developed gaps in its caulking and seals. It is often the area around the window that fails, rather than the window itself.

All of these parts work together to keep you dry, and if one facet of the system fails you will have interior water infiltration. To insure continuous operation, it is a sound idea to update several parts of the system at the same time, when the time comes. For instance, if you’re installing a new roof, take this opportunity to get new gutters and downspouts at the same time.

And remember that proper installation is the key to the best performance and lasting value of your weather protection system. The very best roof shingle that money can buy will fail if the flashing is installed wrong.

Mosby Building Arts specializes in detecting and correcting water problems. They understand the chain of command of water protection so can diagnose the cause and repair or install all the components required to keep you dry. For a water management consultation, call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

MP3: Scott Mosby Tip of the Week – 12

Each week on KMOX 1120 AM, The Home Improvement Answer Man Scott Mosby shares a timely tip that will improve your home and life.

Tune into the KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. During that time, Scott answers your questions at 314.436.7900 or 1.800.925.1120.

Columns on a front porch look wonderful but they also serve an important purpose – holding up the porch roof! There are many types of vertical wood support columns around a home, from porches to wood decks, and it’s important to keep them in good shape because they do bear weight.

The greatest enemy of wood support posts is water, and they should never be in direct contact with concrete, stone or soil because they will soak up moisture and result in them rotting.

Wood columns are typically separated from horizontal surfaces with a thin metal plate (as with a wood deck column) or suspended above the surface and the gap is disguised with a trim piece. This is enough to keep the wood from absorbing too much water.

On a regular basis, check all wood posts and columns around your home for water rot. Look at the bottom 12” for failing or flaking paint, which is a sure sign of moisture issues. Use your finger or screwdriver to poke at finish blemishes, and if it feels soft or penetrates the surface, you’ve got wood rot.

Sometimes the damaged section can be repaired, but if you find yourself patching and repairing it repeatedly, there’s a much larger water problem that needs to be corrected.

Other times the entire wood column will have to be replaced, and it is necessary to fix the moisture problem before installing the new post or you will face the same issue again in the future.

Why would a wood column that has performed perfectly for so long suddenly develop a moisture problem? Keep in mind that rot does not happen overnight; it can take several years for a problem to show up because wood rots from the inside out.

There are several environmental factors that can alter the performance of a support post:

● Plants and shrubs that have grown large enough to block sunlight and airflow

● Landscape mulch depth increases which brings the post into regular contact with water

● Gutters malfunction, causing water to splash or drench the area

● Paints and coatings eventually wear off and expose wood to the elements

● Foundation settlement or weakness opens up new channels for water penetration

Because you are most likely dealing with structural supports, it is preferred that you stay safe and let a professional take care of this type of problem. A Mosby Home Consultant can evaluate problem areas on any of your wood support columns and advise you on the proper way to repair or replace them, while the Mosby construction crew can resolve the issue by fixing it right the first time.

If you detect rot on your wood posts or columns, take care of the problem immediately by calling the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

MP3: Scott Mosby Tip of the Week – 11

Each week on KMOX 1120 AM, The Home Improvement Answer Man Scott Mosby shares a timely tip that will improve your home and life.

Tune into the KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. During that time, Scott answers your questions at 314.436.7900 or 1.800.925.1120.

Water is constantly attacking your home and the wood protecting it, so keeping a constant eye on the state of your home is the best way to keep small incidents from turning into large water damage problems.

Doing a weekly walk-about around the exterior of your home is a good habit to develop. These regular visual inspections will make it easier to spot a problem as it begins. Here’s what you should be looking for:

Gutters & Fascia – Green, black or dark streaks or patches on your gutters and wood fascia usually indicate that waste water is spilling over the edges of the gutters, or that the gutters themselves are leaking, which then damages the fascia. This also means water is not properly draining away from your house, and water that pools around the foundation can end up in your basement.

Wood Siding – For both wood and vinyl siding, the appearance of streaks or patches that are green or black, this could be signs of mold or signs of regular water contact. The siding can be cleaned but the water problem must first be fixed.

Landscaping Damage – Look behind bushes and large plants up against the house for signs of damage incurred while watering them. Ill-placed irrigation systems can also soak siding or shoot up at an angle that infiltrates behind the siding. Check the planks closest to the ground for signs of water damage. It’s key to keep plants and trees from making contact with the home so that air can properly circulate and dry up all water.

Window & Door Jambs – Inspect the bottom pieces of all wood window sills and door jambs for wood that is splintered or looks “chewed.” Wood soaks in water from the bottom up, so these are the most vulnerable locations which show the first signs of problems.

Wood Columns – Failing paint and splintering wood indicate water problems. As some of these columns may be structural (as on a porch or under a deck), it’s important to solve the underlying problem and then repair the columns.

If you see any of these signs of wood rot on the exterior of your home, know that you must begin with correcting the cause of the problem, followed by a repair to the area that revealed the problem. The water management experts at Mosby Building Arts are trained to trace water damage to the point where it first occurs, and then repair all points that suffered.

To have your water problems solved right the first time, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

MP3: Scott Mosby Tip of the Week – 09

Each week on KMOX 1120 AM, The Home Improvement Answer Man Scott Mosby shares a timely tip that will improve your home and life.

Tune into the KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. During that time, Scott answers your questions at 314.436.7900 or 1.800.925.1120.

There is much talk about recouping the cost of remodeling projects, and it is true that certain improvements contribute more to resale value when it’s time to sell your home. For instance, kitchen and bathroom remodels historically recoup a considerable percentage of the cost, as do exterior improvements such as new siding and roofing.

What is often overlooked when sharing this important information is the less glamorous improvements that benefit you right now and in the future whether you plan to stay or sell your house. It’s the simple things that mean a lot, and peace of mind is eternally valuable.

There are key home improvement projects that should be done because you are staying in your home for the long term, and if a day eventually comes that you sell it, then they will automatically add overall value to the selling price of the house.

Get the basics right the first time by investing in:

● A Solid Foundation – a weak or compromised foundation eventually affects the entire house, creating a whole host of structural problems. Attend to any foundation problems as soon as they become apparent.

● A Dry Basement – wet basements breed mold which breeds health problems. A water proof basement is healthy, safe for storage, and can be refinished.

● A Solid Structure – when the “bones” of your house are strong, windows and doors open easily and its easier to make modifications like removing walls or adding additional doors and windows.

● A Reliable Roof System with Proper Ventilation & Insulation – when a roof system is done correctly it extends the life of the roofing material, reduces maintenance, helps the HVAC system work efficiently and promotes healthy indoor air quality.

● Efficient Heating, Cooling and Water Heater – vast improvements to HVAC and water heaters makes investing in these new systems a way to lower utility bills, increase comfort and indoor air quality, and help reduce our dependence on natural resources.

● Water and Moisture Management – water is the constant enemy of every house, so make sure you have proper yard drainage and that your roof, flashing, gutters and downspouts are moving water away from the interior of your home.

● Accessibility Improvements – people of all ages and abilities benefit from accessible design ideas like 3 foot wide entries, zero-clearance thresholds, no-slip flooring and task lighting.

Whether it is next year or 20 years from now, these projects are timeless because they are immune to trends or personal taste – it’s all about soundness, efficiency and comfort. These improvements create a reliable and valuable house for you and future buyers, as long as they are done right the first time.

Mosby Building Arts is known for award-winning remodeling projects that enhance the lives of Metro St. Louis homeowners, but they also know from over 60 years of experience that form follows function. When the bones and muscles of your home perform at peak capacity, everything atop it has long-lasting value. Make wise home improvements that are done right the first time by calling Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Listen to Scott Mosby talk about this topic.

Since the beginning of time, bodies of water soothe the soul and restore the body, which is why we continually harness the power of water for personal improvement and healing. We long for swimming and lap pools for exercise and relaxation. Hot tubs and Jacuzzis provide relaxation and therapy for sore and tired muscles. Waterfalls, gazing ponds and fish ponds encourage quiet contemplation.

From ancient Rome to modern day, we have the desire to bring pools and water features indoors so they can be used and enjoyed year-round in complete privacy and security. And with the increased understanding of the therapeutic advantages of aquatic exercise and rehabilitation, bringing pools indoors can increase the length and quality of life at your convenience.

The St. Louis metropolitan region enjoys a good 4-5 months of warm weather, which makes outdoor pools a tempting and viable option. If splashing under the summer sun is what you desire, click to learn all about outdoor swimming pools.

If you want the powerful benefits of water features all year long, indoors is the way to go. As you contemplate adding an indoor pool or spa to your home, there are several guidelines to follow to ensure that this is a successful and healthy endeavor.

An indoor spa room addition project by Mosby Building Arts.

Humidity

Having a large body of water in an enclosed space rapidly escalates the humidity levels in your home. Improperly managed humidity leads to mold, mildew, rot  and health issues, which is why proper climate control is crucial. Dehumidifiers must be installed to keep the air dry, clean and odorless. To reduce evaporation and condensation, cover the pool or tub when it’s not in use.

Vapor Barriers & Insulation

The moisture from indoor pools and water features continually seeks a way to drier air outside, and the paths of least resistance are the structure of the framing enclosure and anything attached to it. A properly installed, continuous vapor barrier around the container will keep the water where it should be.  Most indoor pools and tubs require some form of heating and cooling, so proper insulation will ensure uniform heating and keep energy costs down.

Heating & Cooling

The room with the water feature needs to be heated and cooled just as the rest of the home is, and regulating water temperature works in concert with maintaining a consistent room temperature. Keeping the room temperature 2 degrees above the water temperature will control excessive evaporation and humidity.  Indoor pools and whirlpools have little chance to gain solar heat, so must be heated year round. The energy required to run this heater – as well as the dehumidifier – should be factored into the long-term cost.

Construction by Mosby Building Arts on the underside of a whirpool.

Construction

Whether you have an existing room in mind or will build an addition for a lap pool or Jacuzzi, insure that the area can withstand the additional weight. A full hot tub can weigh thousands of pounds, and the number and weight of occupants and bystanders who will be in the area also factor in to how much support is needed. Ventilation and climate control will be a part of the room surrounding the water feature, and electrical fixtures and conduit should be rated to perform properly and safely in moist areas.

An indoor pool house project repaired by Mosby Building Arts.

Interior Finishes

A moist, warm room requires special attention to wall and floor finishes. Avoid wallpaper, as the humidity and moisture will too soon loosen the paper from the wall. Semi-gloss paint or ceramic and stone tiles work best on the walls. As to floors, ceramic or stone beautifully withstand direct contact with water while carpeting breeds mold and mildew when it gets wet. Indoor plants thrive on moisture, so consider adding them to the room to improve indoor air quality.

With proper construction, ventilation and water management, an indoor water feature can add measurable value to your home and quality of life. Because there is so much to consider with an indoor pool or water feature remodeling project, it is wise to team with Mosby Building Arts water managers, designers and carpenters to assure you have a safe, healthy and long-lasting indoor pool.

For an example of the care and experience Mosby brings to designing and building indoor water features, browse this St. Louis County spa addition. And if you would like to explore your options for an indoor pool or hot tub, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.