Creating A Flood-Proof Home

12/21/2021 (Permalink)

A floating home in a flood hazard zone is ideal since the house is always above water level. A floating home can withstand a category 4 hurricane.

Flooding is one the most common weather disasters and has cost Americans billions of dollars in repairs. When flood-proofing your home, it is first necessary to identify the frequency of flooding in your home. FEMA's flood map service helps you identify areas that are prone to frequent flooding. 

Blue Zone: 1% chance of flooding per year. This is considered a hazardous area and you should take steps to flood-proof your home. Flood insurance rates are high in these zones.

Orange Zone: 0.2% chance of flooding per year. This is less hazardous but flooding precautions may still be necessary if you don't want to take any chances.

Yellow Zone: Flood risk is undetermined so it is recommended that you do your own research on the area's flooding history and ask around about flooding history. Still take precautions.

Blue with Red Stripes Zone: This is an area that regularly floods that are usually near bodies of water. These areas should be kept clear. If your house is in this zone, take huge precautions and secure your home from imminent flooding.

Adding flooding precautions to your home

Flood precautions can range from simple regular maintenances to expensive renovations. You should take into consideration the extent of your flood renovations depending on how much you can afford to spend. Here are some steps to prevent flooding in your home.

Install foundation vents or sump pump

Foundation vents allow water that pools up around your home to flow away from your home allowing flood water to run off and alleviates water pressure on your home's structural foundation. Installing a sump pump is also useful as a sump pump pumps water out of the basement which happens quite frequently when living in a frequent flooding zone.

Coating and sealants 

Applying coating and sealants to foundations, walls, windows, and doorways help prevent water from gaining entry into your home. This is a simple and inexpensive way of flood-proofing your home.

Install check valves on pipes

Pipes have valves that prevent a flooded sewage system from backing up into your home. Gate valves are ideal since they are more sealed and can withstand flood pressure.

Check the angle of your lawn

If your lawn slopes towards your home, you might need to regrade your lawn as flood water can run off your lawn and pool around your home.

Check mulch and siding

There needs to be adequate space between mulch and the siding of your house. Wet mulch can easily rot foundation and floodwater frequently enables this process.

Point downspouts away from home

Downspouts indicate where gutter runoff leads to and they should be pointed away from your home. Double check this in the event of flood precautioning. 

Building a flood-proof home

When a house is surrounded by floodwater, it is subject to upwards lateral forces. A home's structural integrity should be adjusted to account for this frequent lateral force. When you are in the early stages of building a home or can afford the renovations for flood precautions, here are some steps you can take to mitigate floodwater damages.

Creating a floating home

A floating house will always be above water level, so flooding will have little impact in a flood sensitive area. Consult an expert home builder.

Install stilts

The greatest way to counteract the damages caused by flooding is to raise the elevation of the home above the ground. A great way to do this to install stilts that can be installed on raised platforms. 

Solid floor

Having a wooden floor makes your floor prone to damage. Wooden floors are somewhat porous and can rot or be affected by mold. Having a solid floor mitigates the damages from flood water.

If you have any other questions on how to mitigate floodwater damages or need help with repairs from storm damage, call us now at SERVPRO of Monterey Park.