12 Essential Flood-Proofing Strategies For Property Protection

Natural disasters such as floods can cause significant damage to your property. Not to mention but even the risk it poses to your family’s safety. While it is impossible to completely prevent flooding, there are strategies you can implement to minimize its impact.

Freedom Builders Construction & Renovation LLC comes with a wide range of options in construction and renovation projects. They deal in the construction of new homes & businesses, roofing, roof snow removal, renovations, home improvement, property consultation, etc. 

Here are 12 essential flood proofing strategies for the protection and safety of your property:

Elevate Your Property

Elevating your property is one of the most effective ways to prevent flood damage. By raising the elevation of your home, you can avoid water damage to the interior of your house. 

One way to achieve this is to build a raised foundation. This involves constructing a raised platform to support the structure of the house. 

They used this technique in Houston, Texas, after Hurrican Harvey, where they raised many homes to prevent future flood damage

Seal Your Walls

Water can seep into your home through even the smallest cracks in your walls. Sealing your walls with waterproof coatings, sealants, or paint can help prevent water intrusion. 

These products are readily available and a professional or a DIY enthusiast can easily apply them. 

For example, the city of Austin, Texas, offers rebates to homeowners who use waterproof coatings to floodproof their homes.

Install Flood Vents

Flood vents are an essential component of any flood-proofing strategy. The designs of these vents allow water to flow freely through the foundation of your home. This helps reduce the amount of pressure on the foundation walls. 

By doing so, flood vents prevent structural damage to your home. They commonly use flood vents in coastal areas. They were instrumental in protecting homes in New Jersey during Hurricane Sandy.

Landscape With Permeable Materials

By landscaping your yard with permeable materials, you can reduce the risk of flooding in your home. Permeable materials such as gravel, sand, and crushed stone allow water to flow through them rather than pooling on surfaces. 

This prevents water from collecting around your home’s foundation and causing water damage. For example, the city of Portland, Oregon, encourages homeowners to use permeable materials in their landscaping to help prevent flooding.

Install A Sump Pump

A sump pump is a device that removes water from the basement or crawlspace of your home. It is designed to pump water out of your home and away from your property. A sump pump can be a valuable asset in preventing flood damage to your home. 

They are commonly used in flood-prone areas such as New Orleans, Louisiana. Here many homes have been equipped with sump pumps to prevent water damage.

Build Flood Walls

Flood walls are an effective way to protect your property from flood damage. These walls are constructed around the perimeter of your home to prevent floodwater from entering. 

Flood walls can be made of concrete, steel, or even sandbags. They were used to great effect during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, where they prevented water from entering many homes.

Raise Electrical Outlets And Switches

Electrical outlets and switches are among the most vulnerable parts of your home during a flood. By raising these outlets and switches above the flood level, you can reduce the risk of electrical shock. It also prevents damage to your home’s electrical system.

This technique is common in flood-prone areas such as Houston, Texas, where they built homes on raised foundations.

Invest In Flood Insurance

Finally, investing in flood insurance is an essential component of any flood-proofing strategy. Flood insurance can help protect your property and personal belongings from flood damage.

It is important to note that standard homeowners’ insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage. Thus, it is crucial to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. 

This is particularly important in areas with a high risk of flooding. For instance, they include coastal areas or areas prone to heavy rainfall.

Install Check Valves

Check valves are one-way valves that prevent water from backing up into your home’s drainage system. They are particularly useful for homes with basements or low-lying areas prone to flooding. 

They install check valves in your home’s plumbing system and allow wastewater to flow out. But, it controls floodwater from flowing back in. They install these valves in many homes in Fargo, North Dakota after the city experienced severe flooding in 1997.

Create A Flood Emergency Kit

Creating a flood emergency kit is an essential component of any flood-proofing strategy. This kit should include items such as bottled water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, flashlights, batteries, and important documents.

Having a flood emergency kit readily available can help you and your family stay safe and comfortable during a flood.

Install A Backflow Preventer

A backflow preventer is a device that prevents sewage from flowing back into your home’s plumbing system. In the event of a flood, backflow preventers can help prevent contamination of your home’s water supply. 

Many municipalities require backflow preventers by law and people commonly use them in flood-prone areas.

Retrofit Your Home

Retrofitting your home involves making modifications to your home’s structure and systems to make it more resistant to floods. This can include elevating your home’s mechanical systems like furnaces or water heaters, etc. It installs flood-resistant windows and doors and reinforces your home’s foundation. 

Retrofitting your home can be costly, but it can provide significant protection against future floods. Many homeowners in California have begun retrofitting their homes in response to the state’s increasing risk of flooding.

Conclusion

There are many flood proofing strategies that homeowners can implement to protect their property. This definitely ensures the safety of their families during a flood. 

Elevating your property can help reduce the risk of flood damage to your home. Sealing your walls is another effective way to protect your home from floodwaters. Installing flood vents can also help prevent water from accumulating in your home during a flood.

Freedom Builders Construction & Renovation LLC has multiple subcontractors to perform any job related to building facilities and construction projects. Whether you are a homeowner or a businessman this company assures you the freedom to build your dream structure.