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Flooding and property
flood resilience
Before
a flood
Following
a flood
securing the log pile

Case study

Property Flood Resilience at severely flooded 1850s detached house @ Gloucester

Context

The property, a 1850’s detached house was flooded in 2007, 2012, 2014 and 2020. Some of the PFR work was done in 2010, with additional measures taken after the 2020 flood.

This house gets flooded by the River Severn. In the worst recent flood, in 2020, just before lockdown, the area was deeply flooded for three weeks and only accessible by boat. (pic 7)

This case study is a good example of what can be done by individual themselves, and of PFR for deep and/or long flooding events.

Contributor

Mary Long-Dhonau - Flood Mary

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What was done

Original work undertaken by the owner when the house was bought in 2010:

  • Tiled the floors throughout downstairs using stone flooring up to skirting height, waterproof grout and adhesive. (pic 8)
  • Sealed the flooring with a breathable liquid.
  • Installed electrics up high, which are wired from upstairs to enable them to run two powerful puddle pumps. (pic 3)
  • Raised their freezer up high in the garage. (pic 2)
  • Lifted their shed so it was out of the reach of the flood water levels. (pic 6)
  • Installed flood doors to the front and back of the house. (pic 4)
  • Fitted a non-return valve to the drains leading to the septic tank.

Further work funded by the EA:

  • Slot-in flood barriers to the front and back of the house and along their French windows.
  • Two more puddle pumps.

After the floods of 2020, they took the following additional measures:

  • The homeowner plastered some downstairs rooms with lime plaster to about a metre high.
  • Sealed the patio using a standard patio sealant, which enables an easier clean up after the river water goes.
  • The stone floor tiles were stained with a rust coloured stain after the floods, but a stain remover successfully restored them back to the original colour.

The house occupants are subscribed to flood alerts and have a flood plan, which allows them to move all they can out of harm’s way.

The homeowner is skilled enough to undertake the majority of the work himself, however this might not be an option for the majority of people. This also means that he is able to continue doing some work regularly, meaning this PFR project remains ongoing. The solutions are worth considering, but may have to be installed by competent specialists in most cases.

Type of flooding: River/fluvial
PFR process: Preparation, Construction, Operation/maintenance
Approach used: Drainage, Resistance measures, Recoverability measures
Resistance PFR measure: Flood barriers/covers, Non-return valves, Sump pumps, Sealing of walls
Recoverability PFR measures: Recoverable walls, Recoverable location of services, Recoverable fixtures and fittings, Recoverable design
Type of property: Residential
Funding: Private, Insurance, FDGiA
Procurement: Private

What was the impact?

The property has been made more resilient through several measures undertaken by the homeowners:

  • Installed flood doors, a non-return valve on the septic tank, and slot-in flood barriers to protect against floodwaters.
  • Raised electrical equipment, the freezer, and the shed to be above flood levels.
  • Used waterproof materials like stone flooring, lime plaster, and sealed the patio for easier cleanup.
  • Installed powerful puddle pumps to remove floodwater from the home.
  • Using dehumidifiers and the log burning stove (pic 1) to sped up drying.

The resilience measures have greatly benefits the homeowners, allowing them to better prepare for and recover from flooding events. While they had to claim on their insurance after the 2020 flood, they used the money to continue improving the resistance and recoverability of their home.

The couple were able to negotiate a cash settlement to do the repairs themselves using their DIY skills, rather than a full restoration. This allowed for a quicker and less disruptive recovery.

Lessons learnt

Achievements:

  • The work significantly improved the property’s flood resilience through a range of resistance and recovery measures, including flood doors, raised utilities, and waterproof materials. The use of durable, waterproof materials like stone flooring and lime plaster fit both aesthetic and recoverability needs. These reduced the level of damage and disruption caused by floods, allowing for quicker recovery.
  • Recovery was sped up by the installation of powerful pumps to remove floodwaters.
  • The owner’s capacity to do a lot of work himself meant the home could be constantly improved and choices could be made to fit the specific desires of the couple. However this is not an option for most people as it requires skills and time.

Challenges and how they were overcome:

  • Repeated flooding events were still disruptive, despite resilience measures, especially the 2020 deep flood.
  • Silting and clogging of pumps required regular maintenance.

How this could influence other PFR projects:

  • This project showcases the value of a homeowner-led, customised approach to flood resilience.
  • It highlights the importance of durable, waterproof materials and backup power/pumping systems.

Gallery

Stone flooring to skirting
securing the log pile
raising the shed
raising the sofa on trestle
Flood door
Resilient electrics
Raising the chest freezer
Drying with log burner

View more
case studies

Being prepared for potential flooding is an important element of being flood resilient as it leads to approaches to use PFR measures. It’s about understanding your flood risk, now and for the future.