Examples of measures

Image courtesy of Flood Ark

Flood barriers are panels that slot into a frame outside your door to form a watertight seal that stops water seeping under it.

Image courtesy of JBA Consulting

If you have airbricks in your walls, water can enter your property through the gaps. You can replace them with self-closing airbricks, which have a flap or ball valve inside that closes as the water rises to its level to seal off the holes in the airbrick

Image courtesy of M3 FloodTec

Airbrick covers can be fitted over the airbricks in your walls to seal off the gaps and reduce the risk of water passing through them. These need to be removed after the floodwater has receded to enable proper ventilation.

Image courtesy of JBA Consulting

Flood-resilient wall renders and sealants - Make sure that any cracks in your mortar are refilled. You can use sealants to fill gaps where services wires pass through walls. Water-resistant sealants or renders can be applied to your exterior walls to stop water entering through any gaps.

Image courtesy of Flood Divert

Flood doors look like ordinary doors but form a watertight seal around the doorframe when locked. You can lock your flood door when you go out to protect your property while you’re away.

Image courtesy of JBA Consulting

Non-return valves close automatically if water starts flowing back up your drainage and sewage pipes during a flood to prevent contaminated water backing up out of your toilet and plumbed-in appliances and into your property.

Image courtesy of Delta Membrane Systems

You can replace conventional plasterboard with cement-based or magnesium oxide flood resilient plasterboards, which do not absorb floodwater or degrade when wet

Image courtesy of Mary Dhonau

Concrete floors or ceramic or stone floor tiles with water-resistant grout can be easily cleaned and dried after flooding.

Image courtesy of Delta Membrane Systems

Flood-resilient wall coverings, which can be applied to your interior walls and floor to help them resist flood damage. Paint is a more flood-resilient option than wallpaper.

Image courtesy of Delta Membrane Systems

Sump pumps can be installed into a small pit created at the lowest level of your property. Any water that enters your property flows to the lowest level and can be safely pumped out.

Image courtesy of Mary Dhonau

Flood-resilient kitchens made out of materials like stainless steel, solid, well-treated wood or plastic are much more flood-resilient than conventional units. Raise appliances, like your oven, off the ground to reduce the risk of them being damaged by floodwater

Image courtesy of Mary Dhonau

Furniture can be raised off the ground. Carry valuable items upstairs if possible or to a higher level in your property. Wall-mounted televisions are a simple solution, and you could raise larger furniture items on blocks, pallets or frames.