Although nobody knows for sure what the future climate has in store for us, the last few years have certainly seen an increase in extreme weather hitting the UK. Heavy rainfall, flooding and strong winds have been particular issues, especially in areas of the country such as the South West, which have been particularly badly affected. So, if you’re planning on building or renovating a home, it makes sense to incorporate some weather proof features to help protect you from our increasingly unpredictable climate.

Wind proofing

Strong winds can cause massive amounts of damage to unprepared homes. Fortunately, there are a wide range of solutions you can incorporate into your home to minimise the chances of wind damage.

Roofs are one of the most vulnerable area to wind damage, which can result in anything from a few tiles being torn lose, to whole roofs being destroyed. Metrotile’s steel roofing systems have been designed with extreme weather in mind and are used around the world in some of the planet’s most challenging climates. Thanks to our use of high-quality, super-strong materials and our unique extra-tight fastenings, our roofs can be relied on to stand up to even the most severe conditions. Our products have been tested against cyclone conditions and used in such challenging locations as Fair Isle, the UK’s most remote inhabited island. All of our roofs come with a 40 year weather proof guarantee, so if you’re looking for truly a future proof roof, we’re hard to beat.

Doors and windows are the other key weak point in many houses when it comes to wind. Although they are not usually cheap, heavy-duty storm proof doors and windows will give you the peace of mind that your house will be protected from even the most extreme wind conditions. They also usually have great thermal and noise insulating properties, so you’ll benefit even when there’s no storm raging outside.

Flood proofing

If you live in an area that’s prone to flooding there are various steps you can take to protect your home against flooding and flood damage. Some of these are relatively cheap, such as buying covers for your air bricks which can be temporarily applied during a flood warning to prevent flood water passing through. Other fairly inexpensive options include fitting non-return valves on your pipes and drains to prevent sewage from being pushed back up them and into your home by flood water surging through sewers, and having electrical sockets moved higher up your walls so they are above the reach of flood waters.

If you have a bit more to spend, you can take more extensive measures, such as building flood barriers and buying flood proof doors and windows. You could even consider landscaping your garden to direct flood water away from your property or adding extra drainage, although you will obviously have to figure out where all that extra water is going to go. It’s probably also worth thinking about replacing downstairs carpets and wooden floors with waterproof alternatives, such as polished concrete or tiles. Metal or plastic kitchen units will suffer less damage if flood waters do get in and make sure your other furniture, such as sofas and kitchen tables can be easily carried upstairs to protect them. Finally, you could investigate the possibility of applying a water proof sealant to your exterior walls to keep the floor waters out, although this can have implications from damp, so make sure you consult an expert before going down this route.

If you’re looking to make your home more weather resistant, speak to us about the different roofing options we offer and how they can help you achieve your ambitions. Give us a call on 01249 658514 or use our online contact form.