Most rain damage starts small: a blocked gutter, a cracked tile or a drain that has silted up. A couple of hours of checks before the rains save far more in repairs afterwards.
Outside
- Clear gutters and downpipes of leaves and silt, and check that water flows away from the walls.
- Look for cracked, slipped or rusted roof sheets and tiles, and for gaps around vent pipes and chimneys.
- Clean surface drains, gully traps and soak pits; flush them with water to see that they drain.
- Trim branches that touch the roof or overhang gutters.
- Check boundary walls and retaining walls for new cracks or leaning sections.
Inside
- Look at ceilings and the tops of walls for stains, bubbling paint or damp patches: they show where water already gets in.
- Check window seals and door thresholds on the side the rain usually comes from.
- Make sure the water tank lid fits well so run-off and debris stay out.
- Test the earth-leakage (RCD) switch on your electrical board by pressing its test button; it should trip at once.
- Keep a torch, a bucket and the number of someone who can come quickly.
If you find damp, fix the cause before repainting: paint over a leak only hides it for a few weeks.
Want us to do it? Book a pre-rains check-up →