Temporary and Permanent Flood Resistance: What You Need to Know

When protecting your home from flooding, there are two main types of flood defence: temporary and permanent. If you live in an area with a high flood risk, you’ll need to take the right steps to protect your property and contents from potential water damage.

To start with, flood resistance measures are designed to keep water out entirely. These might include upgrading key areas of your home, like the walls, drainage systems, and floors, to ensure floodwater doesn’t make its way inside during a crisis.

Then there are flood resilience measures, which are just as important. These don’t necessarily stop the water from entering, but instead help to remove it quickly and dry out the property faster after a flood. This helps to restore the building and get things back to normal as soon as possible.

Regardless of whether you go down the temporary or permanent route, you’ll need the help of a competent building surveyor. They’ll assess your property thoroughly and recommend the right protection for your specific situation.

How Do I Know If I'm At Risk Of Flooding?

Airbricks

Airbricks are a weak spot in any flood defence plan, but there are a few ways to keep water from getting in:

• Protective covers that are screwed into the wall

• Clip-on fixtures for quick and easy installation when needed

• Self-activating airbrick replacements that kick in automatically during a flood

Doorways

Water can easily seep in through doorways and cause widespread damage inside your home. That’s why doorway flood protection is so important, and luckily, it’s relatively easy to fit if there’s a flood warning or heavy rain on the horizon. You could even take things a step further by installing a flood-resistant front door, which offers peace of mind even when you’re not home.

Staying Safe During a Flood

If, despite your best efforts, your home still gets flooded, or if the flooding is just too severe, there are a few things you can do to stay safe during the crisis.

Start by moving any valuables to upper floors, and make sure you have enough food and drinking water to last at least 24 hours.

Also, keep these crucial safety tips in mind:

• Floodwater is contaminated
  It may contain sewage, chemicals, bacteria, and viruses. Avoid direct contact and treat anything it touches as contaminated.

• Floodwater is dangerous
  It can be fast-flowing and life-threatening. Hidden obstacles could injure you, and the cold water could lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.

• Water and electricity do not mix.
  If water enters your home, turn off the electricity immediately. Floodwater combined with live power sources poses a serious safety hazard.

Flooding can be devastating, but by taking the right precautions and knowing how to respond, you can reduce the impact and keep your property and yourself as safe as possible.

For more information, contact us on: 01480 442327