Preparing your home in Morocco for winter and rain: the full checklist
Photo : R Prazeres · BY-SA 4.0
Updated 2026-10-26
Every year, the first heavy rains expose the same problems: ceilings dripping under the flat roof, walls turning black, windows letting water in, the main breaker tripping. Most of this damage can be prevented with a few checks in October or November, before tradespeople get fully booked. This matters even more if you own a holiday home or a family property in Morocco and are not there all year. Here is the checklist, from the roof to the heating, with the tradesperson to call for each item.
1. The flat roof comes first
Most Moroccan houses and apartment buildings have a flat roof (terrasse). Unlike a pitched roof, it does not shed water on its own: any puddle that sits there eventually finds a way in. Go up on a dry day and take a close look.
- Clear the roof outlets and spouts (gargouilles): leaves, plastic bags and sand block them during summer
- Look for cracks in the surface, lifted joints and the spots where water pooled last year
- Check the waterproofing where the roof meets the parapet wall (acrotère): a frequent leak point
- Inspect where pipes, satellite dishes, water tank stands or solar water heaters pass through or sit on the roof
- If the roof has leaked before, call a mason (maçon) or a waterproofing company before the rains, not after
2. Downpipes, gutters and drainage around the house
A blocked downpipe can make water overflow against the façade and soak into the walls. At ground level, water should flow away from the house.
- Make sure each downpipe flows freely all the way down
- Clean the inspection chambers and channels in the courtyard, garage or garden
- For ground-floor homes or basements, identify the low points where water gets in during storms
- Don't throw anything into street drains: in cities, the utility operators clean the networks before winter, but litter remains a classic cause of flooding
3. Façades, cracks and damp
A damp patch can come from three different things: infiltration (water entering at a specific point, often after rain), rising damp from the ground (marks at the bottom of walls, white salt deposits) or condensation (mould in corners and poorly ventilated rooms). Repainting without knowing the cause solves nothing: the stain comes back.
- Fill façade cracks with a suitable exterior product, or have a mason do it for wide cracks
- Photograph existing stains with the date: useful to track them and in case of a dispute
- Air bathrooms and kitchens every day, even in winter, to limit condensation
- In humid coastal cities (Casablanca, Rabat, Kenitra, Tangier), keep a close eye on walls facing west and north
4. Windows, doors and joinery
The silicone seals around windows dry out and crack in the summer sun. Rainwater then gets in between the frame and the wall.
- Redo cracked or loose exterior seals
- Unblock the small drainage holes at the bottom of aluminium windows
- Have a carpenter (menuisier, wood or aluminium) adjust doors and windows that don't close properly
- Check roller shutters and their boxes, which are often poorly sealed
5. Electrics: water and power don't mix
Rain often trips the main breaker when water reaches an outdoor socket or light.
- Have an electrician (électricien, trissian in Darija) check that your board has a working 30 mA residual-current device (press the test button)
- Protect sockets and lights on the roof, courtyard and garage with weatherproof models
- Never touch wet wiring: switch off at the board and call an electrician
- After a ceiling leak, don't switch on a light fitting that water ran through until it has been checked
6. Gas heaters and water heaters: safety first
In winter, windows stay shut and gas water heaters and heaters are used more. This is the season for carbon monoxide poisoning, a gas you cannot see or smell.
- Have the gas water heater checked and make sure its room is well ventilated
- Never block air vents to keep the heat in
- Don't sleep with a gas heater or charcoal brazier lit in a closed room
- Check the date on the gas hose and replace it if it is cracked
Budget and who to call
The cost depends mostly on the starting condition: clearing outlets and redoing a few seals is cheap, while redoing a roof's waterproofing is quoted by surface and system. As a reference, a Moroccan construction-pricing site recorded a skilled mason's day rate of roughly 280 to 450 MAD in 2026, with lower prices outside Casablanca and Rabat. Compare at least two or three detailed quotes.
On aloaji.ma, search for the trade you need (maçon, plombier, électricien, menuisier, peintre) and your city, then call or WhatsApp directly, free. Profiles marked "Non vérifié" are businesses found on their own websites that AloAji has not checked yet.
FAQ
When should winter maintenance be done in Morocco?
Ideally in September, October or early November, in dry weather. After the first rains, tradespeople are in high demand and waterproofing repairs are harder on a wet surface.
My ceiling is dripping under the roof. What should I do right now?
Put a container under it, switch off the room's power if water is near a light, then check that the roof outlets are not blocked. Afterwards, have a professional diagnose the waterproofing.
Will repainting get rid of a damp stain?
No. First find out whether it is infiltration, rising damp or condensation. Without treating the cause, the stain will return next season.
Who should I call to waterproof a flat roof?
A mason experienced in waterproofing or a specialist company. Ask which system they propose (bitumen membrane, liquid resin…), the area covered, the guarantee and what is included.
I live abroad. How can I protect my Moroccan property in winter?
Book a check of the roof outlets, seals and gas appliances before the rains, ask a relative or neighbour to visit after big storms, and keep the contact of a local mason and plumber ready.