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Today, we are sharing our top seasonal waterproofing tips to help Sydney residents prepare for next winter. Water is a wonderful, life-sustaining substance that we cannot live without, but when it goes where it shouldn’t, such as inside your home, it can cause untold damage. Whether in the form of rain or snow, the ingress of H2O can cause a wide range of problems, ranging from structural damage and mould to the destruction of lovingly decorated interiors. For this reason, we consider home waterproofing for rain and snow an essential task that all homeowners should attend to annually. Make sure you’re not caught out this year by following the advice of our resident sealing and waterproofing experts.
Step 1: Inspecting Your Home
Starting your winter weather preparations and looking for seasonal waterproofing tips may be the last things on your mind at this time of year, but depending on the condition of your property, it could take months to rectify any potential issues that are discovered. With this in mind, the sooner you learn how to waterproof a home in Sydney, the better and the best way to start is with a thorough inspection of your property, focusing on key areas such as the roof, guttering, windows and doors.
Step 2: Repairing Your Roof and Gutters
If you are lucky, you won’t have any repair jobs to attend to after your inspection, but in our experience, this is usually not the case. Whether you’re going to prepare a home for heavy rain for the very first time or you have been doing so for many years, you are quite likely to encounter several issues that need resolving. The unpredictable and sometimes violent Sydney weather can inflict significant damage on all types of residential and commercial properties, including cracked or collapsed guttering and missing or damaged shingles. It is vital to repair damaged guttering and shingles before winter arrives and to clear gutters of fallen leaves and other debris. The reason we always include this advice when giving seasonal waterproofing tips is that heavy rainfall can quickly lead to overflowing gutters if they’re poorly maintained, and damaged roofs often leak.
Expert Tip: Use Roof Sealants and Flashing
When home waterproofing for rain and snow, it’s a good idea to close any small gaps on your roof with a quality sealant and to make sure that flashing around chimneys and vents is securely fastened.
Step 3: Protect Windows and Doors
Fixing any damage to your roof and guttering is the main priority before winter, but for complete protection, our experts recommend going further. When asked for seasonal waterproofing tips, they always suggest sealing cracks around window and door frames after repairing roofs and gutters. For added protection, you may wish to consider installing storm windows and doors, although this shouldn’t be necessary in most parts of Sydney.
Basement and Foundation Waterproofing
If you would like to avoid future issues such as mould, mildew and rising damp, we recommend inspecting the foundation of your property and basement (if applicable) as part of your home waterproofing for rain and snow. Water ingress at ground level should be prevented by the damp proof course in your external walls but if this is damaged or bridged, remedial action should be taken without delay. You may choose to have a new conventional damp proof course installed or elect to have a DPC cream injected into the walls. If you live in an area with a high water table, you may also like to consider including the installation of a sump pump in your basement waterproofing plans.
Additional Winter Proofing Tips for Heavy Snow Areas
Heavy snowfall is not a problem that we encounter in central Sydney, but if you have a property further out or perhaps a ski cabin in the mountains, you can follow these additional winter waterproofing tips:
- Clear Snow From Roof Regularly
- Install Additional Attic Insulation
Take these steps in addition to those listed above, not instead of, and your property should make it through the next winter season without sustaining any water damage.
In Closing
Once you have completed home waterproofing for rain and snow, we recommend that you schedule regular maintenance inspections to ensure your property remains well-prepared for anything the elements may have in store. If you would rather have your home waterproofed by experienced professionals, don’t hesitate to contact us. We specialise in highly effective water-sealing solutions for residential properties in Sydney.
