How to Stop Home Problems During the Rainy Season—Leaks, Heat, Cracks, Mold, and Termites!

When the rainy season arrives, various home problems, such as roof or deck leakages, cracks, hot temperatures, mold, and even termites, could occur. We cannot argue that these problems can be hard to deal with and should be fixed promptly to minimize further home damage.

What are the effects of the rainy season on your home?

Roof and Deck Leakages

Causes

Roof and deck leakages may be caused by careless installation, unhiding joints and drill holes, obstacles in the rain gutter, and even damage on the roof and deck like cracks or expired old sealant.

How to Fix Roof and Deck Leakages

If leakages are not caused by damage to the roof and deck, the solution depends on the cause, such as proper installation or cleaning of the water gutter. However, for leakages caused by cracks, you can seal them with Beger ROOFSEAL Cool PU Hybrid.

Beger ROOFSEAL Cool is designed for a home solution during the rainy season, such as leaks, cracks, heat, or mold. Its PU hybrid formulation offers high flexibility, providing long-lasting leak protection and waterproofing. The product also features Ceramic Cooling Technology, certified by the TIS standard, which helps reflect heat. Additionally, when used in conjunction with BegerCool decorative paint, it can contribute to keeping your home cooler during the summer. 

Home Moisture

Causes

Moisture can cause various home problems such as peeling, blistering, and mold. There are typically two types of moisture. Temporary moisture occurs after the rains or during new plastering. The other type is rising damp, which originates from underground or is caused by water pipe leaks, gardening, or staying near a water source.

How to Fix Home Moisture

Temporary Moisture

Temporary moisture, also known as surface moisture, typically decreases naturally over time. However, painting walls with excessive moisture can lead to home problems such as peeling film, slow drying, and a shortened lifespan of the paint. Before painting, it is recommended to allow newly plastered walls to dry for at least 28 days or wait at least 24 hours after the rains, ensuring that the moisture content does not exceed 14%.

Fortunately, we don't have to wait that long nowadays. With their up to 25-75% moisture resistance, you can use the recommended primers such as Beger Rain Quick B-2900 (water-based), Beger Pro Quick B-1900, or Beger Super Quick B-2100 on newly plastered walls within 2 days. Additionally, the new primer, Beger Water Block B-3100, can be applied after the rains due to its impressive up to 75% moisture resistance.

Rising Damp

For rising damp caused by water pipe or toilet floor leaks, it is recommended to seal the leaks or fill the gaps with tile grout and then solve problems on the wall. As for underground water rising to the lower edge, there are no permanent solutions. However, you can minimize the risk of paint problems and extend the lifespan of the paint film by applying 2 coats of Beger Aqua Block W-009 or Beger Water Block W-010, along with 1 coat of moisture-resistant primer.

Besides moisture-resistant products, a top coat is also important. It is recommended to use an all-weather resistant exterior paint like BegerCool DiamondShield 15 and the best interior paint from Beger like BegerShield AirFresh Anti-Virus Gold Ion. For urgent work, using Beger One, a paint and primer in one, is recommended.

Cracks in Walls

Causes

Cracks in the walls can be related to many factors, such as surface preparation, improper plastering, low quality of mixing cement, home structure or land subsidence, and expansion and contraction from temperature or moisture. There are typically two types of cracks: non-structural cracks (e.g., hairline cracks or cracks with a maximum width of 10 mm.) and structural cracks (e.g., large cracks with a width over 10 mm. in pillar and beam or vertical cracks).

How to Fix Cracks in Walls

Depending on the type of crack, cracks in Walls can fix by using sealants or fillers and restoring the home structure.

Non-structural cracks 

• For small cracks or hairline cracks with a maximum width of 1 mm., fill with Beger Acrylic Filler F-200.
• For large cracks with a width of 10-20 mm., seal with Beger Acrylic Sealant F-001.

For cracks in the edges of windows and doors or connection joints like walls and floors or roofs, it is recommended to use sealants such as Beger Acrylic Seal, Beger Silicone Seal, Beger Premium Silicone Seal, or Beger PU Seal. They are easy to use and suitable for both professionals and non-professionals.

Structural cracks

• Long deep cracks cannot solve with sealants or fillers, and they may affect the home structure terribly. So, this type of crack must be managed by a professional immediately.

Mold on Walls

Causes

Fungi and algae make an awful home appearance and affect your health. Cleaning the walls cannot stop them, so let’s focus on protection first and select an effective mold killer like Beger Mouldfree M-001. 

How to Get Rid of Mold on Walls

Beger Mouldfree M-001 is a water-based fungus and algae killer, providing low odor, easy to use, deep surface penetration, and excellent coverage for 7.5-8 sq.m/1 liter/coat. It is suitable for the exterior and interior.

• Scrub or clean mold on walls with a brass brush or high-pressure washer
• Leave the walls dry for at least 24 hours
• Apply thoroughly Beger Mouldfree M-001 for 1 coat without washing

To reduce the risk of mold return, following the paint system as one coat of primer + 2 coats of top coat within 7 days is recommended. In fact, high-grade top coats (over 10 years of protection) offer mold resistance too.

Termites

Causes

Termites come with rain, and they often move to our homes and eat all wooden things! So, if you do not want to live with termites, you must remove them first, especially woodwork such as furniture, staircases, or wooden home structure.

How to Get Rid of Termites

Typically, we use a termite protection product with a repellent effect. It can kill termites but sometimes it is not effective. Termites will escape to nearby areas if they are conscious of the product. However, there are innovations nowadays in termite control with insecticides - Thiacloprid, Fipronil, or Imidacloprid. This substance offers a non-repellent and domino effect, spreading through affected termites to other termites. So, the entire termite colony will be killed.    

BegerDrite Prevent Plus 50 EC (Fipronil) or BegerDrite Prevent Plus SC 200 (Imidacloprid) come with benefits of up to 400X dilution with water, low odor, and ready-to-pour in soil. 

Rust

Causes

Rust happens when steel or metal is exposed to water or air. During the rainy season, it is necessary to take extra care of metalwork such as fences, doors, car roofs, and deteriorated metalwork.

How to Stop Rust

The first step is determining the stages of rust. For the surface rust, thoroughly scrub the affected area and then apply a protective paint system. It is recommended to use Beger Rust Guard, an anti-rust primer, or Beger Griptech 2IN1, an all-in-one metal coating and primer with fast-drying properties, before applying the top coat.

However, if rust has significantly corroded the metal structure, it is recommended to replace the material altogether for safety.

It is important to prepare yourself for protection or solve existing home problems before the rain comes. For those who need painting during the rainy season, it is recommended to choose the right products and apply them correctly to ensure a beautiful home appearance, long-lasting protection, and minimized problems.