We haven’t been treated to the best weather over the last few months and as usual, the UK’s weather is as unpredictable as ever.
There have been storms and flooding around the country, causing a great deal of damage and leaving homeowners with a fair whack in repair costs.
And according to Channel 4, [tweetable]if your home floods you can expect repair bills of up to £28,000[/tweetable]. This is much worse than a fire (£7,000) and a burglary (£1,033) according to reports.
You can get a good idea if your area is likely to flood from the Environment Agency, who take into account nearby rivers and sea, but what about excessive rainfall?
Even if you believe your home to be safe from flooding, it’s best to take precautions to guarantee not suffering from any damage.
So let’s take a look at some excellent ways to flood-proof your home:
Protect bricks
Many homes have small gaps in brickwork to accommodate for ventilation. However in bad weather you could experience more air seeping through. Consider some temporary barriers to protect your property against water and these can then be removed at a later date when necessary.
Floor tiles
By fitting ceramic tiles in the kitchen and bathroom you can prevent water rising up through the slab. Tiles are resistant to water so make sure your ground floor rooms are fitted with these.
Non-return valves
By fitting non-return valves to your drain pipes, you can prevent water from coming back into the home when the drain has flooded. Because of the increased pressure the normal flow of water can be disrupted, so make sure to fit the valves.
Garden redesign
The garden can be very important too when it comes to damp proofing your property. It may be best to speak with an expert who’ll be able to talk you through ways to personally improve your garden. Also consider extending the guttering to keep water away from the home.
Damp proof course
[tweetable]Your home should have damp proof course within the brickwork, to act as a barrier against water[/tweetable]. It’s always a good idea to update the coursing and you can use a professional to inject fresh damp proofing.
uPVC windows
How old are your windows? If you haven’t had new windows fitted in the last ten to fifteen years, the chances are they’re inefficient and losing you a lot of heat. On top of this, they won’t protect your home against large amounts of water either. Consider replacing your old uPVC or rotting wooden frames with uPVC and benefit instantly from the installation.
Facts & Figures You’ll Love To Share
- [tweetable alt=””]Channel 4 say you will spend up to £28,000 on repairs in the case of your home flooding.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]Fire damage causes £7,000 of repair work to the average home, whilst a burglary would set you back £1,033 say reports.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]Damp proofing your ground floor walls is an excellent way to create a barrier against flooding.[/tweetable]