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Why and How Should You Always Keep Your Home Protected During Monsoons

Tags: wall rain paint

Okk!

So, it’s pouring again.

Great!

How do you enjoy these downpours?

Hmm...

Dancing in the rains

or

Playing with paper boats

I love both. What about you?

Almost everyone prefers drenching in the rains than tanning under the scorching sun?

Unfortunately, your homes don’t seem to love it as much as you do. Don’t believe me? Ask your walls, ceiling, furniture and floors. Do they unanimously cry of dampness, leakage, seepage and swelling?

Yes!

Well friends, it’s time you lend an ear

and listen to what your home is trying to tell you.

What Harm Can Rains Do Anyway?

Rains can damage your home to a huge extent, from exteriors to interiors. Concrete or RCC (reinforced cement concrete), is porous in nature and allows moisture to permeate through and form ‘damp patches’ on your walls and ceilings. What’s worse, rains can affect your furniture, carpets, doors, windows, floors, linen and possibly everything you can think of. Some learn it the hard way. But, if you wish to act wisely, then continue reading and learn about how to keep house clean in rainy season.

Walls

A nightmare for every homeowner is a damp wall. Peeling Paint, wall molds, ceiling discoloration, water rings, wall peeling or blistering can make anyone go crazy.

But, the good part is, every problem has a solution.

So, what can you do?

You have to be careful even before monsoons set in. Firstly, look for cracks and crevices on your wall.

All cracks must be filled with crack fill putty and loose plaster must be removed by tapping on the walls. Give some time to your walls to heal properly. Once the cracks are bridged, the surface can be scraped with sandpaper to free it from dust and grease. Now, your walls are ready to be painted.

Why painting?

Poor quality wall paints stand undefeated in their ability to cause water retention. Hence, it is absolutely necessary to paint your walls with a coat of waterproof cement paint or opt for specialized paints modified with silicon that have high water repellency. In India, the best time to paint your homes would be between February and April, before monsoons or after October.

Always remember, do not paint your exterior walls when it’s raining and never try to paint your interiors without working on the exteriors first.

What about molds?

These wall and health antagonists are vulnerable to 5-10% bleaching powder solution in water.

Use a brush to smear this solution onto the affected areas and after a gap of nearly 8 to 10 hours, wash the walls with clear water. Allow the walls to dry out completely and make this an integral part of your monsoon home care.

Anything else?

Yes. Do not miss out on the wet patches that tend to form along the lower portion of the walls, which develop due to ground water rising up the walls.

It’s important to install an impervious material into the brick wall, approximately 150mm above ground level, thereby preventing any moisture from rising up.

Doors and Windows

Here we have two scenarios; one in which the door and windows are wooden in nature and second, where they are metal framed. Wood usually swells up in rain water and tends to mar; hence opt for uPVC, as it doesn’t distort or swell.

Use a rubber lining between the sliding of the windows, if rain water tries to seep in through them, when shut.

Metal-framed doors and windows ought to be repainted to avoid rusting alongside preventing rain water from seeping in.

Roofs and Ceilings

Keep an eye on cracks, fissures or crevices on the ceiling or roof leakages. If you can’t do it, get a plumber to do it. Harsh weather conditions prompt water retention and dampness in the interiors.

Waterproof coating on the roofs acts as a sealant and prevents water seepage.

Hardwood Floors

Waxing is a great option to prevent moisture absorption, thus lending your floors with a new lease of life.

Carpets and Rugs

Vacuum carpets and rugs regularly to remove grime and moisture.

Simply rolling them up in case of cotton or using polyethylene sheets, in case of silk, helps in preventing them from water damage and insect infestation. During monsoons, just go for bamboo or rubber mats, instead of cloth.

Furniture

During monsoons, it’s absolutely necessary to keep furniture dry using a vacuum cleaner or dry cloth.

Wardrobe

Never keep any damp clothes in your wardrobe.

Either use silica gel sachets, camphor balls, neem leaves (especially against silver fish) or cloves to keep your closets dry as well as provide some freshness.

General Points to Remember

Ward away flies, termites, mosquitoes and ants by installing uPVC (un-plasticized poly vinyl chloride) windows with an inbuilt mesh system, since they are known to be termite-resistant.

Cross ventilation is a must to keep humidity levels in check.

Heavy summer curtains should be replaced with lacy, translucent or light-weight drapes, as they are easier to dry.

Do make sure to unclog and clean the drains around your home alongside sprinkling bleaching agents.

If cleaning at home isn’t an option, dry clean your linen.

Use naphthalene balls in your book shelves to keep both bugs and repulsive odor at bay.

Prevent short circuits or electrical shocks by covering open electrical switches and connections that may be exposed to rains.

Use disinfectants generously in your nooks and corners to prevent bugs and cockroaches from breeding there.

Silver jewelry should be wrapped in cotton or tissue paper and placed in Ziploc plastic bags.

Damp clothes smell awful and it can be dealt with by using tumble dryers or by making the most of sunlight, whenever available.

Air conditioners and de-humidifiers are wonderful ways to combat the monsoon dampness, if anyone’s in for a big but long term investment.

Keep your rooms properly ventilated.

Follow these tips and enjoy the rains, your adrak wali chai and bhajjis.

Can you think of any other points? Write in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you.



This post first appeared on Interior Design Ideas, Costing And Inspirations, please read the originial post: here

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