How to prevent Heavy Rain Damage to your Home.

[Julie-Ann]

I thought this was appropriate for the rest of Australia. So for all of you who are suffering the non stop torrential rain I hope this article helps to prevent damage to your homes.

Heavy rain damage can cause all sorts of problems in a home. It can flood basements, rot wooden furnishings, and set off mold growth in the dark areas of the house. On top of that, water from heavy rain can also bring in all sorts of infectious waterborne diseases and pose a serious health threat to the inhabitants of the home.

Prevent heavy rain damage by conducting an inspection of the entire house. Here is a checklist of the things and places in a home that should be included in the inspection

The rooftop
o The rooftop is the main structure that keeps rainwater from entering the house. Check every inch of the rooftop and ensure that all materials are not damaged in any way. Any small crack or hole in the rooftop is enough space for rainwater to leak through.
o A pitched or a sloped roof is the best design for preventing heavy rain damage. Use this design for the house if it does not have it already. This type of design directs the water downwards and does not allow rainwater to collect on the roof.


The chimney
o Check the chimney’s construction and see if it is well-made. The bricks should have no gaps and should be tightly sealed together.
o Also check if the chimney’s bricks have been waterproofed. Non-waterproof bricks can easily absorb water and moisture from the outside and bring them to the inside areas of the house.
o Consider using a chimney cap during the rainy season. This will prevent rainwater from coming in and causing heavy rain damage.
o Inspect the seals in the area where the chimney attaches to the roof. If it shows any signs of damage, repair or replace it as soon as possible.

The doors and windows
o Doors, windows, and other entries to the house would benefit from having some sort of covering over them. Rain rarely falls straight down and the wind can easily push water in through exposed doors and windows. A covering would keep water away and prevent heavy rain damage from starting.
o Ensure that doors and windows have been installed properly. They should not let water into the house or let water soak in through their seals.


The building and construction materials
o The materials used for the house should not have gotten wet during the construction. If they did get wet and were not dried properly, then they could cause all sorts of problems for the homeowners later on. Preventing heavy rain damage would prove a lot more difficult if water damage starts from within the house.


The outdoors
o Poles, columns, and trees with heavy branches can easily fall on a house if blown by strong winds. As much as possible, build house structures far away from poles and cut off branches that are hanging dangerously close to the rooftop.
o Houses that are built on low grounds may be more prone to heavy rain damage. If the ground slopes towards the house, water can collect near the foundation and weaken it. Raising the downward sloping areas surrounding the house can remedy this problem.

Have you suffered any rain damage? I hope not.

[thisisme]

Thanks for that.
What about expansion joints? Can they cause problems?

[Julie-Ann]

Do you mean in paving?

[thisisme]

Sorry, In the brickwork.

[Julie-Ann]

Not sure of that one Thisisme - sorry