Protecting Your Home Against Extreme Weather Conditions

Weather can be unpredictable; especially if we take into account the climate change. There are some harsh and even dangerous weather conditions in places that have never had them before and you need to make sure that you are safe. The best place to hide from a storm is certainly your home, but it should be strong enough to withstand even the most extreme weather conditions.

Regular maintenance

Make sure to conduct frequent property maintenance. This includes every single detail that needs to be checked and fixed if needed. Leaking gutters and blocked drains are a no go for a home that should withstand harsh weather conditions, so make sure to fix them as soon as possible. If you don’t you are risking water spilling on your external walls which can further seep into the brickwork and cause you plenty of troubles during storms. Regularly check up on your house and look for any minor and major irregularities and fix them yourself, or simply rely on a professional just to make sure everything is in top notch condition.

Fix up the roof

The roof is the number one target of weather and it should be absolutely functional in order to protect your whole house. Any damaged or missing tiles should be replaced so the water won’t pour inside. Also, any gaps and holes will let the wind in and it will whip off all the remaining tiles and destroy the roof. Furthermore, when you are repairing the chimney stack flashing, make sure you don’t cut corners with mortar fill-ins or self-adhesive tape. These two are not durable enough and they’re very likely to crack under extreme conditions which will allow moisture inside your house.

Take care of the walls

During extreme temperatures, building materials constantly expand and contract which leads to cracking of rendering and damaged masonry. Though it is a normal thing to happen, you mustn’t ignore it and repair the cracks and damages in rendering and brickwork. If you don’t, you are allowing damp to seep through which results in moisture freezing when the temperature goes down which further leads to more cracks and more damp. In order to prevent damp penetration even better, you should consider clearing air bricks and all the ventilation areas of your floors, roof and walls.

Insulated loft and lagged pipes

Insulation can protect your home from extreme weather conditions, but you shouldn’t insulate the roof all the way to the edges. You need to leave a bit of space for the air to circulate and prevent condensation. Blocking the circulation and allowing condensation only leads to rot and decay of your roof timbers, which can make the whole roof collapse during wind or rain storms.

During winter you need to protect the pipes from freezing and bursting. This is a common occurrence during cold snaps and it can cause major internal damage, but it can be easily avoided. So, if you’re leaving town for some time, don’t forget to adjust the central heating on a low temperature and put it on a timer. Check all the radiator valves and make sure there is nothing dripping or leaking.

Risks of flooding

If your home is near the river and there’s a risk of flooding you need to secure your home better. Rivers and even storm drains can easily overflow and do a number on your walls and floors, so make sure you store some sandbags around the walls. Also, you can build a bund wall, which is an additional wall made of earth or concrete, and you will manage to add or alter drainage channels and greatly improve water run-off. 

Two birds, one stone

When protecting your home against the elements, you should also seize this opportunity to make your abode more energy-efficient. This includes an array of home improvement projects related to water efficiency, renewable energy, as well as different home retrofits. What’s more, affordable financing options will make you stop worrying about which project to choose first. If you decide to bundle, say, insulation, new efficient windows, water-saving devices and a cool roof into a single project, this will save you both time and money. Check out this link to learn more.   

Mother Nature can be scary; especially today, when a lot is changing. That is why you need to make sure your home is strong and safe enough to protect you and your family from any extreme weather conditions. Follow these tips and secure your home and you won’t have any problems during the harshest storms.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors