A discolored surface around a downspout (pictured above) is a telltale sign that the building’s water dispersal system isn’t functioning properly. A properly installed and working downspout doesn’t allow water to run over or around it. A downspout releases water from a flat roof or a rain gutter and moves it away from the structure. Additionally, the downspout should have an extension at the bottom to deposit the water further away from the base of the house. This is the importance of functioning downspouts.
Improperly working rain gutters and downspouts can contribute to structural problems including: Roof damage, interior structural framing damage, peeling interior paint, drywall damage, dry rot, mold and mildew growth.
This problem is common on many residential, multi-unit, and commercial structures. Yearly maintenance checks should be scheduled to make sure that the downspouts are working well. Additionally, this building had corollary items that exacerbated the damage from water overflow.
The roof had an accumulation of leaf and other debris which partially blocked water access to the downspout. The unfinished stucco and no caulking around the windows that allowed water to penetrate and damage the interior plaster.
The good news was that since this is an older plaster building, there was no mold and the repairs were limited to the areas around the windows. Rain water can, but rarely, causes mold to a structure. Once the downspout was repaired, and the windows were caulked, we repaired the plaster and repainted.
Call All Los Angeles Painting Company, Inc. 310-470-9218 for your downspout waterproofing needs.
