Five Ways to Protect Your Home from Floods

The floods of early 2023 and increasing warnings of more extreme weather to come, has helped New Zealanders realise the importance of, and the need to, prepare homes to weather big storms. So, we have pulled together five ways to protect your home from floods. Some of these options are expensive, but well worth the cost. If you need to do renovations to prepare your home for extreme weather events, we can help you obtain a mortgage top-up or renovation loan

1. Get ready

Check your property’s flood risk by getting a LIM report from your council. Keep sandbags on hand. Where possible, move valuable items to higher ground.

2. Maintain your drains

Keep drains clear of debris to prevent blockages or reduced function. Check your property plan to see where underground pipes are laid, before planting trees. Roots often create drain blockages. You can contact your local council and they will provide additional information you may need. These include online search; by phone or in-person at the council.

3. Check your foundations

Raise the foundations of homes at risk of flooding, to recommended heights or invest in remedial work where possible. Whilst this may be a costly once-off exercise, it may save you a lot of headache and distress in the future.

4. Check whether gutters and drains are fit for purpose

Check whether gutters and drains are appropriately sized and positioned. This will assist rapid water run off. Often leaves, moss, debris and even bird nests can clog your cutters, making it difficult for rainwater to drain away.

Here are top tips to ensure you clear your gutters correctly:

Use the right tools. It is well worth the investment to get professionals to do this for you to avoid unnecessary accidents. These tools include eye protection, boots with nonslip rubber soles, and waterproof clothing. Pressure washer and attachments make work faster. Use a hard bristled sweep for removing loose debris from the roof.
If using a pressure wash, make sure your spouting is free from debris.
Ensure the correct nozzle attachments are used, since some attachment may be too potent for corroded gutters and PVC. Others may lack the proper spray diameter.
Have the roof cleaned in advance of the rainy season.
Use the correct cleansing agent. A decent cleaning solution will loosen stubborn deposits.
Clean the gutters. If your downspouts become clogged, water will not be able to escape away. If you notice water overflowing from your gutters during a rainstorm, it is due to a clogged downspout.
While obstructions are easily apparent in gutters, sewers are more difficult to detect. Remove any soil, leaves and debris and then pouring in a high-quality drain cleaner.
Fit gutter guards. These merely clip on the top of the gutters to prevent large debris from being washed into them. They are also effective way to stop the birds from nesting in your gutters. Perform regular maintenance. Once the initial clean-up is done, subsequent clean ups become easier to clean in the future. If you are surrounded by a lot of trees, you may need to clean out gutters at more regular intervals.
Whether you outsource these or do them yourself, ensure that you put “safety first”.

5. Design with flooding in mind during renovation or new construction

Gardens and lawns should surround your house, and use materials that can withstand extreme weather and flooding.

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5 Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding