By Brightaire Property Services

17 Dec, 2025

Sunshine Coast Storm Season Checklist: How To Protect Your Floors Before The Rain Hits

The first storm of the season rarely feels serious until it is too late. Welcome to a typical Queensland summer!

You hear the rain on the roof, you notice a small damp mark near the skirting, then a few days later there’s a musty smell that won’t go away. By the time you see a stain on the carpet, water has usually already moved into the underlay or walls.

On the Sunshine Coast, heavy storms and humid air make that mix even harder on homes. Storm and cyclone season in Queensland typically runs from November to April, with the Coast seeing bursts of intense rain and strong winds through that period according to the Bureau of Meteorology. A bit of preparation before the worst of the weather arrives can be the difference between a quick dry-out and a full flood restoration job.

This checklist walks you through how water actually gets into your home, the simple checks to do before the big downpours, and what to move off the floor so your carpets and hard floors are better protected.

Why storm season matters for Sunshine Coast homes

The Sunshine Coast has a lot going for it, but “dry” is not how most locals describe summer here. We typically see:

• Short, intense bursts of rain that overwhelm gutters and balcony drains
• Strong winds that drive water under flashing and loose roof tiles
• High humidity that slows natural drying once something gets wet

When floors, underlay and skirtings stay damp in that kind of climate, mould can follow quite quickly. That’s when families start worrying about health, odours and whether structural damage is brewing under the surface.

Brightaire Property Services has been helping Sunshine Coast homes through storm seasons for more than 20 years, so we have seen how often “it looked like nothing” turns into a real problem when it’s ignored. The good news is that a few simple checks before the wettest months can remove a lot of that risk.

How water actually gets into your home

Water doesn’t need a dramatic flood to cause trouble. It just needs an opening and time. Here are the most common paths we see in local homes.

Roof leaks and blocked gutters

When gutters and downpipes are blocked with leaves or debris, water has nowhere to go. It can:

• Spill over the back edge of the gutter into eaves and walls
• Overflow the front and run down external walls and slab edges
• Pool around roof penetrations, then seep through weak points

Even a small roof leak can track along rafters and appear as a stain in a completely different part of the ceiling or as a damp patch at the wall base.

Balconies, patios and weep holes

Many Sunshine Coast homes have upstairs balconies or tiled patios. In heavy rain, drains can block with leaves, silt and sand. When this happens, water can:

• Flow back under sliding doors where seals have perished
• Sit against brickwork or cladding and seep inside
• Enter through weep holes that are meant to let moisture out, not in

We often see hallway or living area carpets affected where the balcony looked harmless from the outside.

Ground water, driveways and low points

On sloping blocks or low-lying areas, water can build up around:

• The base of external walls
• Driveway edges that slope towards the house
• Lower-level rooms, garages or rumpus areas

If drainage is poor, that water may seep into slabs, under tiles, or into wall cavities, showing up as damp, “sweating” skirtings or soft patches in carpet.

Understanding these entry points makes the pre-storm checks much more targeted and effective.

Storm season preparation Sunshine Coast: your floor protection checklist

Here is a practical checklist you can work through before the worst of the wet weather. You don’t need special tools, just a bit of time and attention.

Outside checks before the heavy rain

1. Gutters and downpipes 

• Clear out leaves, sticks and mud.
• Make sure downpipes are connected and flowing freely away from the house.

1. Roof and flashing (ground-level visual) 

• From the ground, look for obvious broken tiles, loose metal sheets or damaged flashing.
• If you suspect problems, organise a roofer, do not climb on the roof yourself.

1. Balcony and patio drains 

• Lift the grates where safe to do so.
• Remove leaves, sand and built-up sludge that could block water flow.

1. Around the base of the house 

• Check garden beds, paths and pavers near external walls.
• Ensure soil and mulch are not built up above damp proof courses or weep holes.

Inside checks around doors, windows and floors

1. Door and window seals 

• Inspect rubber seals and weather strips around sliding doors and large windows.
• Look for cracks, gaps or perished sections where light or air comes through.

1. Skirting boards and corners 

• Walk slowly around rooms that sit below balconies, patios or known leak areas.
• Look for discoloration, swelling or softness in skirtings and lower walls.

1. Previous leak spots 

• Revisit any areas that have had leaks in past years.
• If there is lingering smell or visible staining, consider a professional moisture check before storms return.

1. Floor coverings in “risk rooms” 

• Note where you have rugs, boxes or low furniture near external doors, under windows or in downstairs rooms.
• Make a plan to shift these before a major storm warning.

Simple ventilation and safety reminders

• Make sure exhaust fans in bathrooms and laundries are working well.
• Know where your power board is and how to safely turn off affected circuits if water ever reaches outlets or appliances.
• Remember: do NOT run standard household fans over standing water, especially near electrical points.

What to move off the floor before a big storm

A few minutes spent lifting and shifting can save hours of drying and cleaning later. Focus on rooms that are:

• Under balconies or flat roofs
• At the bottom of internal stairs
• Near older sliding doors or timber doors that have seen better days

Before a forecast of heavy rain, aim to:

• Roll up small rugs and move them to higher ground or hang them over sturdy furniture
• Lift cardboard boxes, storage tubs, kids’ toy baskets and pet beds onto shelves or beds
• Move low timber furniture slightly away from external walls
• Unplug and lift small electrical items, like power boards sitting on the floor, in potential risk zones

We recently attended a home where a balcony drain blocked during a storm and water crept under the door into a hallway. The leak didn’t look serious at first, but a row of storage boxes soaked up water along the wall. By the time we were called, the underlay and skirtings were wet for several metres. If those boxes had been lifted even 10 centimetres, the carpet could have dried much faster with less disruption.

When a small prep job can prevent a major restoration bill

From a restorer’s point of view, the cheapest water damage job is the one that never needs to happen. The next best is a small, well-contained incident that is caught early.

Here is what makes the biggest difference:

• Clear water paths so rain flows away from the house instead of into it
• Fast discovery when something does go wrong
• Quick, sensible actions in the first few hours
• Early professional drying when there is any doubt about how far moisture has travelled

Professional drying isn’t only about visible wet patches. Our technicians use moisture meters to check the underlay, subfloor and walls, then set up drying equipment to bring those readings back to normal. That process is much faster and less invasive when the area is small and damage is new.

Skipping basic preparation can mean the opposite: longer drying times, removal of underlay or sections of wall, more furniture to move and often more involvement from insurers.

If you aren’t sure whether a “little leak” is a real problem, that’s often the time to ask for help, not to wait.

When to call us for a pre-storm inspection or advice

You don’t need a full flood in the lounge room to call a flood restoration specialist. On the Sunshine Coast, it is worth talking to us if:

• You can smell damp or mustiness in one area, especially after rain
• You have a recurring damp patch on carpet, even if it dries between storms
• You know you have had a leak in the past and never had the floors or walls checked
• You manage a rental or holiday property and want clear guidance before the wet season

When you call, our technicians can:

• Talk through what you are seeing and smelling over the phone
• Arrange a visit to check moisture levels in floors and walls
• Explain what is happening in plain English and outline your options
• Provide reports and photos if insurers or property managers are involved

Sometimes the outcome is simple reassurance that everything is dry and healthy. Other times, early detection and targeted drying prevent a much bigger job later in the season. Either way, you know where you stand before the next storm rolls in.

If you’d like peace of mind heading into storm season, book a pre-storm floor and moisture check so you know your home is ready before the worst of the rain hits.