As the rainy season commences, it is very prudent to prepare for the worst, even if your Bria Home is not in the direct path of incoming storms and typhoons. During this time of the year, preparing your house and lot to endure heavy rainfall is a must. This applies more to the house’s exterior, since it is the one most expos ed to the torrential downpour.
Fortunately, Bria Homes are engineered to withstand the typhoons that are a normal occurrence in the country. Also, they are durable enough to weatherproof you and your home’s interiors. However, it still pays to be prepared, since over time, any house can still suffer from minor nicks and bruises such as leaks and cracks.
Here are some ways on how to prepare your house and lot for the rainy season:
1. Check your roof, skylights and flashing
As we all know, the roof is the first to come in contact with the rain. It is the first line of defense against the heavy rains. If your roof gets heavily damaged, repairing it can cost you oodles of money. This is the reason why regular roof checking and maintenance is very important, since it could save you financial headaches down the road. Experts recommend doing this twice a year, with the help of a trusted professional.
To allow your roof to shield your house from rainwater, it is always wise and advisable to check it twice a year since there are likely cracks, holes, or rusty spots due to wear and tear. Moreover, check if there are no missing, loose, or curled shingles. If there are, go and replace those to prevent your wall or ceilings from being damaged.
Inspect your skylights for proper seal. Make sure they are secure. Improper seals allow wind-driven rain during a storm to leak into your home. We recommend that you stay vigilant and check around skylights at the start of every season.
Flashing is generally very durable against the elements such as rainwater. But you should always check it to make sure it isn’t damaged. Holes, cracks, and rusting will develop over time, through wear and tear, and can end up causing leaks if left unchecked during the rainy season. Hence, check all flashing on your rooftop to make sure it is undamaged and intact, replacing it if the situation dictates.
2. Check the ceilings of your home before the rainy season
Ceiling leaks are very hard to deal with, since the location of the leak is `not indicative of its actual source. Ceilings should be maintained from time to time, since leaks from the roof ultimately affect the ceiling. If your ceiling is made of wood, continuous leaking can corrode and damage it quickly. Do a thorough scan of your ceiling. Check for signs of water leakage such as water rings, mold, soggy spots, or water or ceiling discoloration. Also, check for signs of peeling paint, which is also a good indicator of leaks. If you spot these signs, make sure to hire a professional to take care of things. Surely, you would not want to run out of buckets on a rainy night with leaks all over your house.
3. Clean/repair your gutters and downspouts
When gutters and downspouts are filled with leaves and debris, water overflows and spills down where it can damage walls and footings. In some cases, it can cause flooding inside the house as rainwater seeps in between walls as it seeks an outlet where it can flow. Debris can create a dam which can push water back up under your roof, or down the siding of your house.
If your house is under many trees, the right thing to do is to clear and unclog the gutters at the start of the rainy season, and then clean them again after the first rain to remove leaves and debris that come down from the roof. Gutters that are sagging, loose, and leaky need to be fixed immediately. When granules are present, reseal and ensure there are no existing down-pipe clogs. Downspouts need to be inspected regularly so as to make sure that they carry drainage well away from the house.
4. Have nearby trees and plants trimmed
Trees and plants near or surrounding your house have to be trimmed before the rainy season starts. Trees and plants can become weakened by drought or sunny weather, which goes before the rainy season. When laden or filled with rainwater, weak trees and plants can snap, break in half or become easily uprooted.
Loose branches can easily damage your home in a storm. Old or rotting trees may need to be removed entirely. Broken trees can damage your house and/or the electrical/ power lines that it hits on its way down. Fallen trees and tree limbs are one of the most preventable causes of property damage. So it is incumbent upon you to keep these trimmed, as heavy storms can generate high winds that bring down debris. The better condition your trees and plants are in, the less likely it is that they will damage your house in the rainy season.
5. Check your doors and windows
Rainwater can also enter or seep into your house’s windows and doors. If they’re already old and beaten down, contact a home improvement specialists who could reinforce and strengthen them for you. Ideally, your windows and doors could be opened and closed properly, and they should move in a full range of motion. In times of torrential rains, make sure they could be completely sealed and shut down. If there are tiny gaps in your windows and doors, rainwater could easily penetrate these and enter your house. Tape your windows with industrial-strength packing tape to protect the windows during high winds. You can also use weather stripping, foam tape, caulk, rigid foam insulation, or window film to impede or obstruct any air or water leaks.
Windows and doors that are in perfect condition should protect you from the elements so that you and your home remain comfortable and dry even during the rainy season. They also help you save money in terms of lowering your electricity bill, by improving your home’s energy efficiency, especially if you use air-conditioning units daily.
6. Inspect your electrical system /Wiring
This is of paramount importance. You would not like any of your loved ones to be harmed or electrocuted due to faulty wiring and other electrical issues. You may enlist the assistance of an electrician or anyone familiar with wirings and sockets to inspect or check if there is any damage. In addition, examine if any of your switches is damaged. If yes, have these damaged switches repaired post haste. To be safe, purchase a few surge protectors to protect and care for your appliances and gadgets that may be affected in the event that lightning strikes unexpectedly.
7. Consider buying a generator
If you have funds to spare, you can look into the possibility of buying a portable emergency generator. Generators can be very useful during rainy season, since typhoons can cause power fluctuations and interruptions. Worse, rotating blackouts might be implemented, which could interfere in your daily routine most especially if you are working from home. Generators provide emergency electricity in time of need, most especially when you are in a rush to get that last-minute email done. They also keep a few essential lights and appliances running, such as a few air-conditioning units or electric fans for a good night’s sleep.
8. Check your pipes
Faucets and pipes should also be examined from time to time. A leaking pipe or a malfunctioning faucet can strike dread into the heart of even the most experienced homeowners. Clean the rain water pipes occasionally to ensure smooth drainage of rain water from the roof. Also, call a plumber and replace rusted or broken drain pipes immediately. If some leaks or pipes need to be repaired or adjusted, a trusty plumber can handle the job. The size of the leak does not matter; it should be paid attention to unless you want to enrich your water concessionaire by paying a hefty water bill.
9. Stock your pantry for emergency
When a strong typhoon leaves behind a massive flooding in your area, you cannot go out of the house to buy your necessities such as food and water. Also, blackouts have a tendency of interrupting the supply chain of goods and services. Having a large stock of canned goods, bottles of water, and other necessities can help you prevent restless nights and days stressing over what food to eat.
Assembling a disaster supply kit is also extremely valuable, and you must put it in a very accessible place. A basic kit should include three gallons of potable water per person, a three-day supply of non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, a tool kit to open cans and turn off utilities such as a handy swiss army knife, a flash light with extra batteries, and a whistle to signal for help. If storage space permits, this should also include wet wipes, mosquito repellent, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation, a battery-operated radio for news updates, and a working mobile phone with a lengthy battery life. You may also want to ensure that you have enough stock of candles and non-electric lights placed somewhere.
10. Prepare for possible flooding in your area during the rainy season
Preparing for possible flooding in your area can mean keeping abreast of the latest news regarding the storm’s most likely path or trajectory. In addition, having sand bags and concrete edgings would not hurt, in order to divert the water into the drainage areas. Also, it can mean packing up your bags with the possibility of leaving for the nearest evacuation center in mind, if your place becomes immersed in flood. In light of this, you should know the contact numbers of your local government offices, so they could assist you when things go south. Also, government orders regarding evacuation should not be disobeyed, since flooding has been known to have claimed so many lives since time immemorial.
It is highly recommended to arrange your home in a manner that minimizes the danger to you and your family, as well as help keep most of your valuables salvageable, should there indeed be a flood. In the event that you really live in a flood-prone area, or flood has entered your home or basement before, you should do better the next time flood waters come in.
You can move electrical cords up off the floor, together with anything delicate or easy to damage, and move furniture, or other special items to an elevated place. You should store important documents off the floor in waterproof containers. Gadgets and laptops should be stored in shelves or drawers that flood waters cannot reach, and your television should be mounted or supported firmly by a wall bracket. Keep the mop in the reach and invest in some water vacuum, if you have money to burn.
Want to live in a house designed to withstand and endure the wrath of the yearly rainy season? Check out Bria Homes. Bria Homes prides itself on its fast construction time. In every project, it uses new technologies in home building in order to reduce construction time. Not only does Bria assure fast construction time but also high quality homes. Bria’s engineers and architects ensure that Bria’s homes will last through any weather.
BRIA Homes is a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc., one of the largest real estate companies in the country. BRIA Homes is primed to bring quality and affordable house and lot packages and condominium units closer to ordinary Filipino families. This is the goal that drives every single employee in the company, for which the ultimate fulfillment is seeing a client happily moving into BRIA homes.
To know more, visit their website at www.bria.com.ph, like and follow “Bria Homes, Inc.” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber Community, Telegram Channel, Kakao Talk, LINE and WhatsApp, or call 0939-887-9637.
