If you own a house or another building in a flood-prone area, take steps to reduce potential flood damage:
- Install non-return valves in drainage pipes, to prevent sewage backing up into the house.
- Reduce water ingress:
- Fit water-resistant door and window frames
- Install ready-made flood defences, such as flood barriers
- Use waterproof sealant on external walls
- On your property’s ground floor, avoid fitted carpets, wooden skirting boards and normal (non water-resistant) plaster. These will be damaged by floodwater and will need replacing. Choose instead ceramic tiles for floor covering and skirtings, and water-resistant lime plaster or cement render and water-resistant paint on internal walls.
- In kitchens and bathrooms, raise cupboards up on stilts, so that water can flow beneath them. Avoid chipboard or MDF units, which will be damaged by floodwater – install stainless steel, plastic or marine plywood kitchen and bathroom units, which can be wiped down after flooding.
- Raise the height of electrical sockets to at least 1.5 metres above ground floor level, to prevent floodwater damage.
- Position any main parts of heating or ventilation systems upstairs or raised well above ground level.
- Purchase a portable pump, or install an automatic pump, to remove flood water. Pumps can keep the floodwater level low inside.
