Isn’t the monsoon the best time of the year, offering pleasant weather and positive vibes? While you might enjoy the rain and the beautiful skies from your home, what if you suddenly realise that your roof is leaking or that there is a patch of fungus growing on your wall?
After a few showers, the entire scenario gets quite tedious for the homeowners. The prolonged exposure to rain could welcome dampness in the walls and even chip off the paint, leaving you not only with an unattractive home but an unhealthy living environment as well.
The monsoon is synonymous with water seepage, growing fungus, and a range of housing hazards. To maintain the positivity of the monsoon and enjoy it till the end, there must be a guarantee that your house is ready to face any challenge that comes up with the season.
Let’s look at eight functional methods to create monsoon-ready homes.
8 Effective Strategies to Guard Your House Against the Rain
01. A Protective Layer on Walls
Your walls might be the ultimate damage-wearing structures of the house during the monsoon season. These can absorb moisture from the ground and cause dampness in the wall. Ensure that there are no crevices in the wall, and if you spot one, seal it.
Taking preventive measures on exterior walls can also prevent dampness in interiors. Treat the walls with a layer of waterproofing, which will serve as a barrier between the wall and moisture.
Pro Tip: The most vulnerable areas are the corners near doors and windows. Keep a check on these to avoid cracks, which serve as the ultimate route for water seepage. Inject all the cracks with putty and paint them before welcoming the monsoon season.
02. The Electrical and Plumbing Security
One of the scariest issues is the electrical defaults during monsoon season. Check these points before the monsoon arrives, as moisture and electricity can react and cause a hazard in the house.
Read More: 7 Reasons Why Your Home Should Have Proper Wiring And Grounding
Check if there are any electrical defaults in the wiring and get them resolved. The same applies to plumbing lines. There shouldn’t be any blockage or leakage in the pipes, as collected water can be home to deadly diseases. Apart from mosquitoes, water leakages can cause moisture, which further serves as a breeding ground for fungus. This will not only make the room look shabby, but also lead to a bad smell in the interior.
Here’s how you can take care of your appliances without any professional help!
| Issues | Tips to Protect Electrical Appliances During Monsoon |
| Water damage to appliances | Keep appliances away from moisture |
| Voltage fluctuations | Use voltage stabilizers |
| Power surges | Install surge protectors |
| Lightning strikes | Avoid using appliances during lightning storms |
| Dust and dirt buildup | Regular maintenance and cleaning |
| Power outages | Unplug appliances during power outages |
03. Maintenance of Locks
Another major issue that comes up during the monsoon season is the malfunctioning of the locks. Locks serve as essentials not only during the rainy season but for the entire year. Make sure to check the operation of the locks.
If you feel a jam in the lock, use a spray that helps eliminate the accumulated dust from the interior of the lock. Clean it with a soft cloth, and the lock will start functioning smoothly.
04. A Clear Drainage Path
Water clogged in the drain pipes can act as an extra load on the ceilings and make the structure weak. This can cause short circuits, leading to further issues. Keep the rooftop drains free of obstacles to give water a clear path.
Ensure that the debris is cleared from the drains and check the functioning of the entire drainage system. The stagnant water will emanate an awful odour and welcome unwanted insects to your home. Add bleaching agents around the drains to keep insects and small animals away from your home.
Pro Tip: Another way to prevent clogged drains is to install mesh screens over drain openings to catch debris before it can go down the drain.
05. The Furniture Care
Furniture is another damage-bearing element during the monsoon season. However, it is simple to protect it. All you need to do is move the furniture away from openings or spots that hold the chance of bringing water inside the home.
Place neem leaves or camphor balls inside the cupboards to protect the clothing and other items from getting damaged by dampness. It’ll also keep insects away.
06. Rain Proofed Openings of the House
Metallic grills and doors or window frames can suffer severe damage during the monsoon season due to rust. The chances of rusting are extremely high during the rainy season. Hence, all the grills and frames must be rain-proofed.
Make sure to wipe the grills and frames with a dry cloth after the rain has stopped. It’ll help you retain the look of the house and increase the lifespan of the metal.
Pro Tip: Even wooden doors and windows are affected during the monsoon, as moisture makes them swell. In such a case, contact an expert to clear the moisture and restore them to their original sizes.
07. Optimise the Interiors
Since rain prevents you from venturing out, your home should be the best place for you. Rainy weather can sometimes be gloomy. So, spruce up your interiors to make the gloomy rainy season a little brighter.
Keep the house well-ventilated and all jazzed up with design elements like natural plants, scented candles, and warm lighting. Pick bright accents for the monsoon decor to brighten up the interiors and bring freshness into the house.
08. Go for a Pre-monsoon Home Inspection
Coming across cracks and crevices in the home might be too late if the monsoon has already arrived. Get your home inspected every year during the pre-monsoon to avoid a hassle in the rain.
Check the roof, as it could be the ultimate cause of problems. Fill all the cracks and treat the roof with waterproofing methods to avoid dampness in the interiors. The roof is the ultimate armour for your house because it keeps the house and the people living there safe from poor living conditions.
Monsoon-ready Home with 5 Simple Decor Ideas
Don’t we all want a home that’s as soothing as the monsoon? Why not tweak the aesthetics of the house to complement the season? Let’s look into five monsoon decor hacks that not only keep you comfy but also add to the beauty of your home.
01. Keep it Warm with the Lighting
Lighting is the ultimate space maker that can effortlessly jazz up the aesthetics of the home. One of the perfect approaches for monsoon home decor is to switch white lights with warm yellow lights. This will make your home extremely comfortable and offer the best ambience.
02. Goodbye Rugs and Carpets
The rainy season brings with it dirt and moisture. While rugs and carpets keep your floors clean, the scene can turn the other way around during the monsoon. This season might make the rugs or carpets dirtier. Therefore, it’s best to roll up the rugs and carpets and keep them away. Even if you plan to retain them in the decor, you’ll have to keep cleaning or vacuuming them.
03. Green Monsoon Plants
Greenery is an evergreen decor option that serves every season, be it winter or monsoon. One of the most appropriate home decor ideas is to keep the interiors fresh with the help of plants. You can either brighten up the interiors with artificial plants or welcome humidity-absorbing plants to maintain a comfortable atmosphere inside the home.
Here are some plants that you can consider:
| Plants | Benefit |
| Spider Plant | Removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air. |
| Aloe Vera | Absorbs benzene and formaldehyde. |
| Peace Lily | Removes mold spores and formaldehyde. |
| Boston Fern | Absorbs formaldehyde and xylene. |
| Bamboo Palm | Absorbs formaldehyde and xylene. |
04. Aromatic Interiors
The monsoon can sometimes bring along a nasty smell, ruining the purpose of your luxurious interiors! It is extremely uncomfortable to live in a house with a damp odour. Incorporate a few scents and aromatic candles into your home décor, which will also help lighten your mood. You can even select from a range of therapeutic fragrances to combat the smell and retain comfort.
05. Freshness with Ventilation
Ventilation is a must-have for any home. Your interior spaces must have some fresh air. Try to keep the windows open to promote cross-ventilation inside the home. Allow the fresh air to take away the dampness during the monsoon season.
Enjoy the Weather and Safeguarded House!
Home issues must never get in the way of you enjoying the weather. With these simple hacks and decor ideas, you can be rest assured that the monsoon will be the most welcomed and stress-free season for you.
As the monsoon brings relief from the hot summers and prepares you for the chilling winters, let it stay serene for you with healthy homes. Implement the tips mentioned in this article and simply enjoy the monsoon while relaxing in your home and sipping some steaming hot cups of coffee!
FAQs
01. Can I protect my home against monsoon dampness?
There are several hacks to keep your home safe from dampness. You must enable ventilation in the interiors and keep a check on leakages. Ensure that the drains remain unclogged and that every nook and cranny of the house is clean.
02. How do I keep the floor free of moisture during rain?
One of the simplest ways to keep your floors free of moisture during the monsoon season is to enable cross-ventilation in the interiors. Fresh air will eliminate moisture from the rooms, leaving you with a healthy interior.
03. Is it necessary to mop the interior spaces during the rainy season?
Dampness and moisture could be home to several unhygienic bacteria, which is why it’s always a safer choice to mop the floor if it’s constantly wet.
04. How to keep the walls safe from monsoon effects?
The monsoon season makes the walls prone to fungal growth and dampness. Make sure to seal any crevices in the walls and get the exteriors of the home waterproofed to prevent this issue in the interior. A damp-proof course will keep the walls healthy and minimize the chances of fungal growth.
05. What are the tips to safeguard wooden floors during the monsoon?
The easiest trick to keep your floors safe from damage is to check for leakages. If there is one, rectify it at the earliest. You can also opt for absorbent mats to prevent the floors from getting affected. Use hardwood floor cleaners like Bona floor cleaner to prevent the musty odour.
Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.