With extended southwest monsoon rain in 2019; monsoon season in 2020 has made an early onset and the four-month festival has begun two weeks earlier as compared to last year. Monsoon season is the time for homeowners to make some necessary changes to their homes and protect them from exposure to water and moisture that can prove to be detrimental.
The Terrace
As most homes in India have flat roofs, it is important that the water drains as smoothly as possible. The first step towards waterproofing your terrace would be to make sure it is clean and water does not accumulate when it rains. You need to make sure the drain pipes, the floor traps are clear of mud and leaf aggregation. You can start by trimming the trees close by and picking up the dirt from the roof floor. Other than that if the house has already developed some cracks and you can observe seepage from down below, you can apply multiple layers of elastomeric coating on the roof and the most vulnerable parts. This coating not only prevents water from entering the structure but also insulates the building, preventing loss of heat from inside.
The Exterior Walls
Walls are directly exposed to the rains and this is where potential seepages would make an entry inside the house. In the rainy season, the seepage occurs not only from the downpour from above but also from the moisture accumulated in the ground that rises above. This seepage causes damp patches which not only impact the health of your home but also make it smell poor, damp, cold, and invite fungi. You should first check and fix the cracks immediately, and then apply a coating of waterproof paint on the exterior walls.
Electrical wirings and connections
Many accidents occur due to faulty electrical sockets during monsoons. Homeowners should ensure that the power cables do not come in contact with water. We can install fuses and circuit breakers to safeguard against electric shocks, but that when exposed to water even they can malfunction. You should try not to fix them on your own and it is not advisable to use electrical equipment during rains, connected to faulty switches (loose connections).
The Kitchen
Kitchens should have no damp areas. Few food items particularly require your attention during the rainy season as they have greater chances of going bad. You can use airtight glass jars for storage, and on good sunny days, you may want to sun-dry some grains to avoid infestation by worms and fungi.
Quick Tip: To remove funny odors from the kitchen cabinet, just leave an open container carrying freshly ground coffee inside the closet.
The Interior
Let as much sunlight enter your house as you can, to keep it moisture-free during the rainy season. For this, and to get a better view, replace dark, heavy, and opaque curtains with light, sheer and transparent ones. You also need to protect your furniture against humidity and moisture, as all the wooden things in the house tend to react adversely to these conditions. Now, in order to do that you can apply a fresh coat of varnish/ lacquer to prevent the wood from swelling. Keep the furniture about six inches away from the walls, and do not clean the furniture with a wet cloth.
Rearranging the storage cabinets
This long 4-month rainy season makes our storage spaces most vulnerable to moisture and humidity. Thus, it is more important than ever to take care of your cabinets and to work with some remedies for their upkeep. While the cabinets should be rearranged to protect your precious linen and silk from getting harmed, natural protection in the form of pouches containing camphor and cloves can be kept at various places in the cabinet, to fight the odor.
The Foyer and doormats
A good quality doormat is a must during this season, to keep your house clean and dry. Keep doormats that absorb moisture and dust well, at all entry and exit points, to make sure you do not carry these into the house. Invest in non-plastic, textured ones, so that it catches all the dirt and water.
The room/ area where you store your raincoat, shoes, umbrellas, etc., must also be kept clean at all times, to avoid the accumulation of moisture and dirt.
Home Constructions | Renovations | Interiors
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