It is that time of year when the weather turns bad, and the wind starts to howl. It’s a good idea to protect your house from the elements, but what do you do? You can’t just keep it shut up all winter long. Luckily for you, this article has some tips on how to protect your home this season without going stir-crazy!
1. Check Your Roof
In the recent past, London was heavily struck by a thunderstorm that caused a lot of damage to cast iron downpipes especially. The storm was mainly bad for the roofing industry, and it is estimated that heavy thunderbolts damaged over 500 houses.
It’s essential to check your house to be sure everything is fine, especially when bad weather forecasts are on their way. There are several flood damage prevention tips that you can find out there, but the most important thing is to check your roof for leaks and blocked spouts. When you see some problems or malfunctions in your roof, don’t waste time and call the professionals to help you out. This is a crucial step for protecting your house from bad weather. If you spot any leaking inside the building, try to stop it as soon as possible; otherwise, there will be more damage than just rainwater on your floor!
2. Install Storm Shutters Outside your Home
Recent flash storms in London saw many homes affected by the poor weather. The damage to some of these homes was devastating, with roofs being ripped off and walls collapsed just like that. Among the famous individuals affected by the poor weather was Queen guitarist, Brian May, who termed London ‘brutal’, stating that he will be leaving the capital for a while.
This is not the first time homes have been affected by bad weather in London, as it has happened before and will continue to happen if homeowners do not take proper measures. Some of these measures include having storm shutters installed outside your home, so you can be able to protect yourself, family members, or even pets during the unforeseeable future when such storms occur unexpectedly.
Storm shutters at least provide an extra layer of protection on windows. Their tough material is made from aluminum alloy, which cannot be easily destroyed despite nature. They also come in various colors like white, but most people prefer dark ones because they blend well with any color scheme, making them hardly noticeable; perfect if you want to keep things hidden.
3. Get Rid of Leaves from Gutters
Will London flooding stop anytime soon? Well, that is an excellent question to ask. The truth is that the situation is likely to worsen, and flooding is expected to happen more often. If you want to protect your house from bad weather, it would be good to remove all leaves in gutters. It will help prevent water damage as well as inside of your home.
Gutters are vital for any building with roofs because they can carry rainwater away without creating problems such as puddles or floods on the surface where the building stands. Suppose there is too much debris buildup in them over time? In that case, that’s when trouble starts happening. Firstly, it gets harder for their owner(s) or someone else responsible for cleaning the gutter system to do their job. Secondly, all of the debris could clog up gutters, so water can’t flow freely anymore.
4. Don’t Ignore the Sewage System
Most homeowners know how important it is to protect their house from bad weather. But did you know that the sewage system can also be harmed by heavy rains, snow, and ice?
The easiest way to keep your home’s drainage pipes safe during a storm is to make sure they are in good shape before anything happens. Contact a plumber immediately if you spot any leaks or cracks on them (rare but possible)!
Also, if there isn’t much space between the drains and other infrastructures such as fences, driveways, or walls, pay attention because clogged drains mean trouble for everyone involved.
5. Waterproof your Basement
The basement area is usually the most affected in your house. It is essential that you waterproof this part of your home with a quality product such as [polyurea or polyaspartic]. By doing so, you will ensure that water does not penetrate the walls of your basement.
Waterproofing is also important because it creates a membrane between the concrete and any external elements, meaning that once you waterproof your home, no liquid can seep through to cause damage to its structure or contents.
The best way to protect your house from bad weather is by using various tactics that work together. You can’t rely on just one strategy like insulation, air sealing, and window film because each offers protection in different areas and other issues.
