Before the heavy rains: a drainage checklist for Benguet homes
In the mountains, water is the main enemy of a house. A short walk around your property before the rainy season can prevent costly damage.
Benguet gets a lot of rain, and much of it falls in short, heavy bursts. Water that is not led away properly soaks foundations, pushes on retaining walls, and finds its way into walls and ceilings.
Most water damage starts small and is cheap to fix early. Set aside an hour before the rainy season and walk around your property with this checklist.
On the roof
- Gutters and downspouts are clear. Leaves, pine needles and debris block gutters quickly, especially near trees.
- Downspouts discharge away from the house. Water dumped at the base of a wall soaks the foundation. Extend the outlet or lead it into a canal.
- Roofing is secure. Look for loose sheets, missing screws, rusted areas and lifted flashing around chimneys and walls.
Around the house
- Ground slopes away from the walls. Water should flow away from the house, not toward it.
- Canals and drains are clear and flowing. Clear silt and debris so water does not back up and overflow.
- No water pooling near the foundation after rain.
Retaining walls and slopes
- Weep holes are open. These let water out from behind the wall. Blocked weep holes mean water pressure builds up.
- No new cracks, bulging or leaning. Compare with photos from earlier in the year.
- Slope surfaces are covered. Bare soil erodes quickly. Plants, ground cover or proper protection help hold it.
Inside the house
- Damp spots or stains on walls and ceilings, especially below the roof and near windows.
- Peeling paint or mold, which often point to water getting in.
- Musty smells in lower floors built against the slope.
When to call someone
Some things are fine to handle yourself, like clearing gutters and canals. Call a builder or engineer if you see:
- New or growing cracks in a retaining wall, or a wall that leans
- Cracks in the foundation or walls that get wider over time
- Soil movement or small slides near the house
- Repeated leaks even after you fix the obvious spots
Fix it before the rains
Drainage work is far cheaper than repairing water damage later. If you are in Baguio, La Trinidad or the nearby towns and something on this list worries you, message us. We can take a look and tell you what needs attention now and what can wait.