JOIN USWater damage is one of the most common and expensive disasters your home can experience. It costs lakhs of rupees to fix the problem. Safeguarding your most important asset against water damage and the complications that follow it is the top priority for most conscious houseowners. Water lodging into crevices could later lead to dangerous structural damage that could signal an imminent collapse.
Water, water everywhere
With 2017 being the wettest year in Bengaluru and with 1621.6 mm rainfall recorded till October 15, 2017, seepage and wall dampness are some of the most common issues faced in every building. Maintenance companies have noticed a 210% increase in waterproofing and seepage repair bookings as compared to the previous quarter. Bengaluru witnessed a 44% increase in the total request for water seepage and waterproofing in several low-lying areas of the city.
Leaking pipelines through grouts in the bathroom and kitchen tiles signal water seepage. It can also cause dampness of adjacent walls or the ceiling downstairs along with bubbling and peeling of paint. Apart from being aesthetically unappealing, water seepage into electrical wiring can cause short-circuiting, which can result in potential electrocution and fire hazards.
One of the most common and serious consequences of water seepage is the growth of mould and fungus, which can cause various health problems like asthma, allergies, nasal congestions, infections, etc. These can spread through ventilation and AC contaminating the rest of the house and causing further damage to furniture, carpets, walls, etc.
As most of us tend to procrastinate on fixing these problems, we fail to realise that taking late action on water seepage problems would cost much more as the problem prolongs. It increases the extent of damage and puts the building and its residents on a high risk.
Prevention is better than cure. So, waterproofing one's home is always better than facing the problems of fixing water seepage. Water damage also drives down the market value of the property and taking the right measures to ensure that your homes are safe from water damage is a lot less of a hassle than having to deal with the repercussions.
Dampness in the wall and ceiling is caused due to poor quality construction and lack of appropriate waterproofing measures taken in the building. For example, dampness in the ceiling could be due to leakage from the terrace and dampness on walls could be due to the rising groundwater or seepage from exterior walls. Multiple waterproofing chemicals are available in the market which are mixed to replaster or repaint the wall to make it waterproof. Homebuyers increasingly call waterproofing specialists to perform specific surveys of their homes.
With regard to arranging and executing waterproofing repairs, the climate is something one ought to consider. Rain can impact the ability to do both indoor and outdoor waterproofing work. Unlike with rainy conditions, extreme winter weather only affects waterproofing methods done outside the home. Experts say the best time for any water seepage-related repair work is right after the monsoons where owners know exactly which spots to target and facing the difficulties of the daily rains will not be an issue.
So, the next time monsoon comes around, your home can safely embrace the rain.
(The author is chief operating
officer, Gapoon)