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An afternoon of checks before the wet season saves a lot of damage during it. Most wet-season problems — leaks, blocked drains, damp walls, tripped power — start small and are cheap to fix in the dry. Work through this list before the heavy rain sets in.

What you'll need

Everything here is stocked across our branches.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Clear the gutters and downpipes

    Leaves and debris in gutters overflow in the first big downpour and push water back under the roof edge and into the walls. Clear every gutter and downpipe, and check that water actually runs away from the house, not toward the footings.

  2. 2

    Check the roof and flashings

    Look for loose or lifted sheets, backed-out screws, rust spots and cracked sealant around vents and chimneys. A screw driven home now is far cheaper than a ceiling repair later. Re-seal any suspect flashing.

  3. 3

    Sort out drainage around the house

    Standing water against the walls finds its way in and undermines footings. Clear drains and channels, and make sure the ground falls away from the building. Where water pools, a simple channel or soak-away moves it on.

  4. 4

    Deal with damp and gaps before the rain

    Seal gaps around windows, doors and where pipes pass through walls. Fix flaking paint and treat any early mould. A tube of the right sealant now keeps a wall dry all season.

  5. 5

    Check power, lighting and back-up

    Wet season means storms and outages. Test that outdoor and wet-area circuits are protected, replace failed outdoor lights, and keep working torches, spare batteries and, if you rely on one, a serviced generator or charged power station ready. Get any doubtful wiring checked by a licensed electrician — do not guess with power.

Tips for the PNG climate

  • Do the checks in the dry. Everything on this list is easy in fine weather and miserable (or dangerous) once the rain and storms arrive.
  • Water against the walls is the hidden enemy — most damp problems are really a drainage problem outside.
  • Keep a small ‘storm kit’: torch, batteries, sealant, tarpaulin and basic tools, so a leak at night is a quick fix, not a flood.
  • Anything involving mains power in a wet area is a job for a licensed electrician, not a DIY guess.

Common questions

When does the wet season start in PNG?
It varies by region, but broadly the wetter months run from around November to April. Do these checks before the heavy rain sets in for your area.
Water is pooling against my wall — what first?
Fix the drainage outside before you patch anything inside. Clear the drains, and make the ground fall away from the wall; most internal damp is caused by water sitting against the footings.
Can BNBM help me get the materials together?
Yes — add what you need from the categories above to an enquiry and pick your branch. Staff can confirm what is in stock and arrange delivery before the rain.

Ready to start?

Add what you need to an enquiry and choose your nearest branch. We confirm the price and what is in stock before you travel — fourteen branches in ten locations.

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