The problem is not the total rainfall, it's the intensity
Antalya's annual rainfall is higher than many northern European cities; the difference is that it is squeezed into four months of the year. The volume that falls in a few hours overwhelms drainage that would cause no trouble in normal conditions.
That is why a roof that shows no sign of trouble all summer can start leaking in the first big November downpour.
The four ways water gets in
Almost every case of water ingress we see in the field falls under one of these four headings:
- Blocked gutters and downpipes — water runs down the façade and seeps in over sills and window heads
- Terrace and balcony drains — when blocked, water pools, rises above the waterproofing layer and passes to the floor below
- Chimney bases and roof junctions — the first place ageing membrane shows
- Ground-floor level differences — if the garden slopes towards the house, heavy rain comes in under the door
When the damage is noticed
The insidious part of water ingress is the delay in the symptom. Water that gets into a wall can take weeks to show as a stain on the inside face. In an empty house that stretches to months, and by the time the stain appears, the plaster, the paint and often the wiring are affected too.
The value of a regular visit here is catching the stain in its first square centimetre. A leak found early is usually solved by clearing a gutter; the same leak found late becomes wall-opening and redecoration.
Where to look after rain
If there has been a major downpour in the area, these points should be checked within 24–48 hours:
- Ceiling corners and above windows — fresh staining or blistering
- Whether water is still pooling on terrace and balcony floors
- Floor damp in basements and storage rooms
- Standing water and soil loss in the garden
- New cracks or bulging in retaining walls