How to Protect your Home from Rainwater Damage

This week we’d like to talk about How to Protect your Home from Rainwater Damage. Your home is your castle, and it should be treated as such, especially during the rainy season when the weather is less predictable.

Here are?5 tips on How to Protect your Home from Rainwater Damage:

1.?Clean your guttering?- Over time your gutters can accumulate debris, trash and other undesirable objects that can block the free flow of water. Given that we have just come out of the dry season, some gutters may be clogged by sand, dust and dry leaves.

Clogged gutters in the rainy season can only mean one thing: back-up of water. Considering that the rainfall is constant, this back-up of water can be quite rapid and will instead overflow at the top, and flow to the base of your house. This pooling of water can erode your foundation if left unfixed.

2.?Proper Drainage?– Poorly constructed drainage systems can severely impact your home?and lead to reversal of water flow into your property as opposed to out of. If this happens, it can cause flooding of your home and erosion of infrastructure.

Lack of drainage systems are also a cause of concern. While you may not see the need for it during periods of little or no rain, during the rainy season it can turn into a problem. When rain falls, the water must find a route. Should you lack proper drainage systems, rain water can saturate the soil surrounding your home and weaken your home’s foundation.

Drainage is key in preventing and protecting your home from rainwater damage. Your drainage system helps to re-route the flow of water away from your home; rainwater, greywater from your showers and kitchens etc.

With a long rainy season ahead, it is best to take the time now to invest in a proper drainage system.?

3.?Seal Windows, Doors and Openings?– Rainwater is notorious for being able to enter your home through cracks and openings that you did not even know were there. While a little rain water is harmless, over time it can become a nuisance and even lead to damage?in terms of rot, decay and erosion.

Weather strips and sealants can be used to completely cover any holes, cracks or openings that leave the interior of your home exposed to the elements. You can also protect doors by applying a fresh coating of oil paint which provides protection and acts as a resistant barrier to moisture and rain.?

4.?Clean your Septic Tanks?– Underground septic tanks are at particular risk during the rainy season. Heavy rainfall has the compounded effect of saturating the soil. In terms of septic tank systems, the rainfall leads to saturation of the ground soil absorption area of your septic tank, leaving it impossible for water to flow out of the septic tank. This is made worse if the septic tank is full or close to full, as the rain water will have the effect of filling the tanks, leading to back-up and spillage.

This backed-up water has nowhere to go but back into your drainage system and toilets.

A key way to mitigate this issue is by having your septic tanks cleaned ahead of time. As we are at the start of the rainy season, it is a good idea to have this done now before it is too late.?

5.?Painting the Exterior of your Home?– Over time rainwater has the effect of weakening your home’s exterior. Concrete is no doubt extremely strong and durable and can survive for many years, but the constant weathering of rain, water and high winds takes its toll by increasing the porosity of the materials, which further leads to degradation of the wall and its durability. Although there is no way to prevent this form of erosion completely, one way to slow this process is by painting the exterior of your home.

Paints are not purely aesthetic, but also have the benefit of waterproofing and protecting the walls of your home from rain, high winds and more. Some paints are specifically geared towards this and are considered “Weather Guard” for the protection they offer; if you live in an area that is prone to heavy rainfall, you should definitely consider this form of paint for the exterior of your home.?

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