Weather Proofing a Home
Keeping your home protected from the elements is not only important for the individuals living in it but also the home itself. A home that is maintained and weatherproofed will last much longer than one that is not. The biggest concern for weatherproofing is ensuring your home is well-insulated and has no points for water to leak in.
Insulating
Every home should have some form of the insulation layer that allows temperature control from within the home with minimal heat transfer to the outside. Whether you are keeping the cool in, or the heat in, insulation will help to maintain the temperature indoors.
Insulation can be purchased at local hardware stores in the form of paneling or spray-on insulation. However, if you have no access to a store or the materials are too expensive, you can always create your own insulation from recycled paper (newspaper, phone books, shipping boxes, etc.). However, installation should only be carried out by a professional to ensure safety. Due to this, the steps have not been provided, but we recommend reaching out to someone who builds homes to discuss this option with them, as it is significantly less expensive than traditional insulating materials.
Other tips to provide more insulation to your home include:
- Remove screen doors in the cool months, and replace them with a solid metal, wood, or glass door.
- Add rubber weather stripping around doorways to prevent drafts when they’re closed.
- Add plastic sheeting over windows to keep them covered which adds an extra air pocket to increase insulation.
- Tape newspaper along window seams.
- Increase airflow within the home with fans or vents.
- Install thick curtains over windows to protect against drafts that can’t otherwise be stopped.
Waterproofing
Fill in any cracks with caulking or spackling paste, especially those where the wall and floor meet.
If the roof is damaged, a tarp can be placed over the roof and secured with sandbags until it can be properly repaired:
- Place a tarp over a damaged area on the roof, letting one end of the tarp hang off the edge of the roof.
- Wrap these ends around a piece of lumber, letting one rest on the roof beyond the damaged section and the other attached to the hanging end of the tarp.
- Secure the tarp boards to the roof with sandbags (preferably), zip ties, screws, or nails.
This fix will work until the roof can be properly repaired. This should never be done during a storm, or if there are high winds or rainfall.
Maximizing Space
For some families, there may be very limited space, especially for bedrooms. Without building more homes, or putting up walls, one way to help block off space for rooms is to use curtains hung from the ceilings. If secured to the floor, they may also be used as walls. You can also use panels to delineate space, or existing furniture such as bookcases.
Improving Comfort
Every home should feel comfortable for everyone living in it. There should be an adequate amount of tables and chairs for meals, as well as beds for each individual. There shouldn’t be rooms that are too warm, cold, or drafty.
Using the methods above can improve the home in ways that make it safer but also more comfortable. However, furniture is also an important part of a home. If you know someone who works in carpentry, it’s relatively easy to make a few chairs, and tables, or even a bed frame.
Resources
Habitat For Humanity Armenia has many programs for providing housing for families and working with them to determine payment strategies, sweat equity, and donations. Visit their website to learn more and even sign up your own family.
Homebuilders’ Guide to Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction
References
8 Little Known DIY Tips on How to Better Insulate Your Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.assuredcomfort.com/news/8-little-known-diy-tips-on-how-to-better
After – Tarp properly secured. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.property-preservation-reo.com/roof-tarp.html
Ganea, S. (n.d.). Straw-wall [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.homedit.com/10-straw-bale-homes-an-eco-friendly-alternative-to-explore/
Giordano, K. (2012). [Untitled photograph of an insulated window]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQH_js4sI3Y
How To Tarp A Roof | Severe Weather Guide. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXWMj_TbDp4&ab_channel=Lowe’sHomeImprovement
Lord, N. (2018). [Untitled photograph of wall caulking]. Retrieved from https://www.oldhouseonline.com/repairs-and-how-to/conserving-energy-in-an-old-house
[Untitled photograph of tarped roof]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.tacticalrestoration.com/What-to-Do-When-You-Find-a-Roof-Leak.html