8 Tips On How To Waterproof Your Home

As you already know, torrential rains are a year-round worry for us. Unlike in other parts of the UK, we seem to experience scattered rainfall throughout the year. With a climate like this, keeping your home waterproof is a top priority. Here are a few tips on how to prepare your home for heavy rains:

Check if you live in a flood-risk area

Check whether your area is prone to a heavier downpour at the Environment Agency website. If your property is indeed prone to flooding, you should subscribe to flood warnings via email, phone or text. This will help you prepare if your home is affected.

Have your gutters cleaned

If you haven’t had your gutters cleaned in a while, it’s best to have it done by professionals before the rainy days come. Better yet, ask your local contractor to install gutter guards to keep twigs, dead leaves and other debris off your drains.

Assess your windows and doors for gaps or holes

Even if you think your windows and doors are already shut tight, water can still seep through the gaps and holes especially when the wind is strong. Check for tiny entryways and fill them in with a sealant.

Be safe with electricity

Electricity and water is a dangerous combination. If there’s a risk of flooding in your area, make sure that your sockets are all covered, electrical appliances are stored in a dry place, and the kids are away from the fuse box.

Cover air vents

One of the most common ways that the rainwater gets inside the house is through the air vents. When a heavy rain hits, covering your air vents from the outside wouldn’t suffice. Protect your home from water intrusion by covering your air vents with a thick plastic sheet inside and outside.

Clean up your drains from up to down

The clean up shouldn’t stop at your gutters. Make sure that your stairwell drains, window and gutter drains are free from any blockage as well. For drains connected sump pump system, you can test them out by pouring water down the drain line.

Check the driveway

If your driveway is made of a permeable material like resin, water should be able to exit your property without a problem. Otherwise consider having block paving, resin or tarmac driveway installed while there is still time for it to set. Also, make sure that there are no holes or downslope where water could accumulate.

Keep water away from your foundation wall

If you’ve done any landscaping around your home, keep the soil touching your foundation wall just below its top. This will keep any rainwater from pooling next to your home and sneakily causing damage to your foundation.

These tips are only meant to keep the water from getting inside your home. If you’re looking for long-term waterproofing solution, you should enlist the help of a professional. This way, they can do a thorough assessment of your home and you can get detailed recommendations.