Protecting your home

Kitchens

• Laminated chipboard or MDF kitchens are nearly always destroyed by floodwater. They cannot be dried out and are impossible to disinfect.
  
  
• Although they may be more of an investment, solid wood or plastic kitchens are far more resilient to flooding. Alternatively, opt for free-standing kitchen furniture that can be moved or raised on bricks if necessary. Fit easily removable doors.
  

Drains, sewers and air bricks

• Buy air bricks with removable covers. Often forgotten, floodwater will get into your property through air bricks if they are not sealed. Always remove or open the cover after flooding to assist in drying out the property.
  
  
• Floodwater can back up in drains and enter your property through sink, washing machines and toilets. It may contain sewage. To avoid this, install anti-backflow valves to drains and sewers.

Walls, windows and floorings

• Consider having extended concrete footings and waterproof membrane laid in the foundations. Walls will be more water resistant if they have closed-cell cavity insulation at ground floor level and raised damp proof course.
  
  
• Apply waterproof sealant on exterior walls and use water resistant paint for internal ground floor decoration. Check walls for cracks and seal them. However, gypsum-based plaster materials have no resilience to flooding. If you are re-plastering your home opt for more resistant, waterproof material.
  
  
• Paint skirting boards both sides before fitting to improve the seal. Tile and seal the ground floor of your property - solid flooring is much more resistant to flood damage than floorboards.
  
  
• Choose rugs rather than fitted carpets on the ground floor. They can be rolled and stored – fitted carpets can be completely ruined by floodwater.
  
  
• If you are replacing windows, choose frames made from man-made materials that will not be damaged by floodwater.

Other measures

• If you are rewiring the ground floor of your house raise all wiring, switches, socket outlets, service panels and meters to a height of at least 900mm above ground floor level.
  
  
• Boilers, hot water cylinders, air conditioning units and any other heating and ventilation main components should be situated on the first floor or in the loft.