Flood defences for Residential properties
According to the Environment Agency 1 in 6 homes amounting to about 5.2 million are at risk of flooding in the UK. This highlights the importance of having strong flood defences for the homes at risk.
Due to the effects of global warming this figure is expected to rise even further by 2030.
A lot of the flooding we are experiencing these days is caused by localised torrential rain which leads to flash flooding. In essence because we are paving over so much ground there is very little the authorities can do short term and cost effectively to counter this.
The Pitt report on the 2007 floods does recommend a higher level of community participation in future flood prevention schemes and more self-help such as property level flood protection.
Local authorities are able to apply for grants for these solutions and sums up to £2.5m have been available in past financial years.
Insurance companies will also be demanding more and more property level flood protection action so maybe now is the time to investigate our solutions to provide you with a dry home and affordable flood insurance cover.
Because of the insurance issue we always recommend the use of BSI Kitemarked product wherever possible. There is a wide range and we are able to give advice and considered opinion on most of these.
Our flood defences and solutions are suitable for all property types including Grade I & II listed buildings and they offer “on-wall” and “off-wall” solutions.
“On-wall” flood defences and solutions include door, window and air brick covers as well as automatic and passive air bricks. These solutions will also include internal and external tanking for walls, floors, cellars and basements.
“Off-wall” flood defences and solutions, which are for wider area or community schemes, include Rapidam, lift-up barriers, gates and slot-in barriers. These solutions can protect gardens, outbuildings and conservatories where it is not practical to install flood barriers or where the flood height is expected to be above 900mm.
Off-wall barriers come in heights up to 2m and most require some form of ground work to which the systems temporarily attach.
Rapidam is a very flexible solution and a 100 m section can be installed in 40 minutes by 4 people and can be a quick and cost effective solution in place of an Environment Agency river bounding scheme which could take years of planning and permissions.
Lift-up barriers too are very effective for community-wide schemes and offer a very aesthetic solution for most areas and especially listed consent areas.