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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Making a house flood resistant
Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into
their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? Tim |
#2
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Making a house flood resistant
Tim Downie wrote:
Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? I recall a program where someone had done just that. It seemed to work well. Tiles for the first 3-4ft downstairs, Electrical sockets further up the walls. I can't recall what they did about kitchen units, unless the kitchen was upstairs. I also know of a pub which is regularly flooded, though I expect they have far more stainless steel items. Each time it takes 3 or so weeks to re-open. Where there's a will there's a way. |
#3
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Making a house flood resistant
Some of your suggestions already feature in government guidance:
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/eng...aringforfloods Er - apart from your "floating raft floor". |
#4
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Making a house flood resistant
"Tim Downie" wrote in message ... Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. -- Tinkerer |
#5
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Making a house flood resistant
On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:26:39 +0000, Tim Downie wrote:
By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. Wonder how *fast* the water comes in in situations like this? i.e. would concrete floors and a drainage channel around the perimeter, leading to a sump/pump do the job - or would the pump just get overwhelmed? (There's the issue of where to pump *to* of course!) |
#6
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Making a house flood resistant
"Tinkerer" wrote in message ... "Tim Downie" wrote in message ... Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. -- Tinkerer Houseboats? |
#7
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Making a house flood resistant
Tinkerer wrote:
"Tim Downie" wrote in message ... Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. But we live in a world where planning control give a maximum roof height, which tend to make the ground floor lower than it should be. I know of one building which was flooded as a direct result of this. |
#8
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Making a house flood resistant
On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:26:39 -0000, "Tim Downie"
wrote: Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? Flood resistant houses with tiled walls and electrics installed at first floor level are common in the Netherlands in areas where achieving the national standard of protection against flooding is not practicable. |
#9
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Making a house flood resistant
Wonder how *fast* the water comes in in situations like this? i.e. would concrete floors and a drainage channel around the perimeter, leading to a sump/pump do the job - or would the pump just get overwhelmed? (There's the issue of where to pump *to* of course!) Everything from water gently lapping up at your house and rising imperceptibly slowly, to mudslides and tidal waves. Sewers overflowing back into properties is a particular danger (in emergency use sandbags in the loo), so automatic valves or "sea toilets" may be necessary. |
#10
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Making a house flood resistant
Tinkerer wrote:
"Tim Downie" wrote in message ... Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. Actually a very good idea. If you live on a flood plain it makes perfect sense. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
#11
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Making a house flood resistant
On 23 Nov, 19:26, "Tim Downie"
wrote: Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. There was a suggestion on telly after a previous round of floods of a giant condom which you raised around the house as water approached, but I bet you'd then find the rubber had perished at the folds. Another idea from Holland shown around the same time was the whole house built on a raft that floated up and down on poles. The real solution, if you insist on living in a flood plain, is to live upside-down, i.e. the living space with its expensive electrical goods and irreplaceable family treasures are upstairs, and bedrooms and bathroom downstairs. Keep a pile of black bags in the bedrooms ready to get the clothes upstairs PDQ and use rugs not fitted carpets. Water alarm in case it comes at night. Chris |
#12
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Making a house flood resistant
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#13
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Making a house flood resistant
On Nov 23, 11:35*pm, wrote:
if you insist on living in a flood plain, is to live upside-down 1 - Exactly. Downstairs bedrooms. - Concrete floor, cheap laminate & roll up rugs - Tiled or textured UL94V0 plastic walls - Acoustic tiles on ceiling to restore acoustics - Sockets & lightswitches IP66 glanded drop - Automatic flood valve on toilet - Understairs tanked to ceiling, shelves for bedding, clothes, flood pump & door seal Cleanup aids. - Central drain for house/room - Simple hose-down, disinfect, dehumidify 1st-floor. - CU and even DNO cutout on 1st-floor - Possibly block n beam construction - Possibly steel stairs with inset wood A blend of modernist, minimalist & practical. 2 - Removal of PP restrictions on height to permit more logical 80cm floor height. 3 - Dredge the ruddy rivers properly Victorians built much of the UK 's infrastructure AND regularly maintained the rivers, we are not doing this. We are treating the effect with multi-million pound barriers pushed by enterprise rather than civil servants tackling the cause and being held to account for not doing so. We are failing to manage waterflow just as we failed to manage transportation. USA is about to hit the same problem head-on, monumental amounts of bridges, roads even basic utility structures across America are in dire need of repair, replacement & maintenance. It too is about to find "post-empire" is an expensive world of compromises. 4 - Downstairs Contents Insurance guaranteed to £2.5k "Upside down" house should be able to secure specialist cover of £2500 for £100/yr, perhaps varying £50-200/yr. Indeed one could say the same is true for "normal" houses - it comes down to risk, insurers like too easy a life. New Build on flood plains which has been rampant under New Labour really should have been "upside down". Instead we have had "build anywhere without due consideration of the risks, feel the finance in your fingers not the water round your toes". |
#14
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Making a house flood resistant
In message , Tim Downie
writes Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? At the end of the day, it comes down to statistics What are the chances a) that such a flood will occur and b) that it will involve you vanishingly small, it's just a bugger when it happens to you -- geoff |
#15
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Making a house flood resistant
On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:20:05 -0800, Owain wrote:
And who here would want to risk losing all their valuable junk in the garage? I'm safe if my house floods - nearly all of my valuable garage junk is in a different country |
#16
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Making a house flood resistant
On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:54:07 +0000, geoff wrote:
At the end of the day, it comes down to statistics What are the chances a) that such a flood will occur and b) that it will involve you vanishingly small, it's just a bugger when it happens to you c) Where you are located. Vanishingly small is true for us but for a location less than 20' above the normal water level it's anything but. Build in that zone and the chances are you will get flooded at least once in a lifetime. If you are only a foot or three above the water level then you'll get flooded far more often. The simple answer is don't build on flood plains. But if you have been daft enough to do so live it. Don't come crying to me post flood because "they" didn't warn you, "they" haven't built adequate defenses, "they" won't insure you. Want that nice riverside appartment, don't buy the ground floor one... -- Cheers Dave. |
#17
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Making a house flood resistant
"js.b1" wrote in message ... 3 - Dredge the ruddy rivers properly Why? They are not needed for navigation anymore. Victorians built much of the UK 's infrastructure AND regularly maintained the rivers, we are not doing this. We are treating the effect with multi-million pound barriers pushed by enterprise rather than civil servants tackling the cause and being held to account for not doing so. We are failing to manage waterflow just as we failed to manage transportation. The Victorians didn't pave huge areas so the water would run off into the rivers as fast as it fell from the sky. The Victorians didn't build big barriers on the sides of rivers that made the huge volume of water flow down stream too fast for the downstream areas to handle. The Victorians didn't build on flood planes. I have little sympathy for people that decide to live on existing flood planes. I have a bit of sympathy for those that find they are on a new flood plane caused by someone "fixing" an upstream problem. The best solution is to demolish the houses that keep flooding. |
#18
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Making a house flood resistant
On 24 Nov, 09:11, "dennis@home" wrote:
The Victorians didn't pave huge areas so the water would run off into the rivers as fast as it fell from the sky. You ever seen Saltaire? |
#19
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Making a house flood resistant
Tinkerer wrote:
"Tim Downie" wrote in message ... Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. Kind of hard to retro-fit though.; -) Tim |
#20
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Making a house flood resistant
On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:26:39 -0000
"Tim Downie" wrote: Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. I was thinking: knock down the house and build an ark that sits on the same foundations. Tethers short enough to keep it in the plot, but long enough to rise, say 20ft - keep bolt croppers handy to cut loose if necessary. Gas water and electricity through self-sealing connectors. Probably avoids the Building Regs too. Noah. |
#21
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Making a house flood resistant
On 23 Nov, 18:26, "Tim Downie"
wrote: Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. |
#22
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Making a house flood resistant
On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:11:30 +0000, dennis@home wrote:
The Victorians didn't build on flood planes. Well, aviation - at least powered - was pretty new back then I suppose. |
#23
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Making a house flood resistant
Tinkerer wrote:
I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. Which would probably fall foul of the disabled access requirements in the building regulations. |
#24
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Making a house flood resistant
Andrew May wrote:
Tinkerer wrote: I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. Which would probably fall foul of the disabled access requirements in the building regulations. What requirements? That we don't build "town house"s on 3 floors? |
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Making a house flood resistant
Fredxx wrote:
Andrew May wrote: Tinkerer wrote: I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. Which would probably fall foul of the disabled access requirements in the building regulations. What requirements? That we don't build "town house"s on 3 floors? Isn't there a requirement that access to the front door cannot be via steps? Certainly all the new houses I have seen around here have that even if the resulting ramp takes up half of the front garden. |
#26
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Making a house flood resistant
On 23 Nov, 19:52, "Tinkerer"
wrote: I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. Or a three-storey townhouse design with the garage and entrance the only things on the bottom floor. If floods are predicted, the car can be removed to higher ground, then everything else should be safe (so long as it isn't used for junk storage). Neil |
#27
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Making a house flood resistant
Tinkerer wrote:
"Tim Downie" wrote in message ... Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. I'm thinking more of waterproof non-absorbant walls (possibly tiled) downstairs, all electricty cables coming from upstairs (or from the loft) *down* rather than from under the floor up, solid concrete floors downstairs and maybe even a floating "raft" floor on top of the concrete floor for your furniture that would float on top of flood waters keeping your valuables dry. How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. I've also seen it done in an expensive looking house beside the Thames. Colin Bignell |
#28
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Making a house flood resistant
"Andrew May" wrote in message ... Fredxx wrote: Andrew May wrote: Tinkerer wrote: I suppose the ultimate is what they have done, in the so called third world, for years in flood prone areas - houses on stilts. Which would probably fall foul of the disabled access requirements in the building regulations. What requirements? That we don't build "town house"s on 3 floors? Isn't there a requirement that access to the front door cannot be via steps? Certainly all the new houses I have seen around here have that even if the resulting ramp takes up half of the front garden. That's easy. Front door at ground level, and behind the front door steps up to the living quaters. Where there's a will there's a way :-) |
#29
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Making a house flood resistant
Owain wrote:
On 24 Nov, 14:57, Neil Williams wrote: ... If floods are predicted, the car can be removed to higher ground, Why can't cars float? On second thoughts, thousands of cars floating out to sea might be a liability. then everything else should be safe (so long as it isn't used for junk storage). Decent attics, maybe mansard roof. Owain And therein lies the problem. Increasingly houses are three-storeys because that is the only way to get a big enough house and the density that the planners demand. Planners also specify a height limit so that these new three-storey houses are in keeping with their neighbours so that means that the top floor is in the attic which would otherwise be used for storage. So the only available storage is the garage which is probably too small for a car anyway but was built because it was a planning requirement with the aim of keeping cars off the road. The driveway is probably too short to park a car on. Andrew |
#30
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Making a house flood resistant
Fredxx wrote:
That's easy. Front door at ground level, and behind the front door steps up to the living quaters. Where there's a will there's a way :-) We had exactly that problem we were offered a house (few years ago now)with a 'main door' at street level (son is disabled we needed the ground floor ) the door was on street level but just inside the door was a flight of steps up to any habitable areas, above shops. This was not counted as a serious offer as although advertised as a ground floor house we, successfully, argued that there was no ground floor and it should actually be listed as a 1st floor dwelling. |
#31
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Making a house flood resistant
Owain wrote:
On 24 Nov, 14:57, Neil Williams wrote: ... If floods are predicted, the car can be removed to higher ground, Why can't cars float? http://www.amphicars.com/ Colin Bignell |
#32
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Making a house flood resistant
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "Tim Downie" saying something like: How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? There's a house a few miles from me that's entirely up on stilts. Car parking and garage/storage underneath and a bungalow above with a really nice deck around it - long before they became common. In fact, the deck is a car ramp, iirc. It's miles from any likely source of flooding, though. |
#33
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Making a house flood resistant
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember saying something like: The real solution, if you insist on living in a flood plain, is to live upside-down, i.e. the living space with its expensive electrical goods and irreplaceable family treasures are upstairs, and bedrooms and bathroom downstairs. Which struck me as the solution for future flood damage avoidance in areas likely to get it again. Problem with Cockermouth was the unexpectedness of it, but in many areas the above idea should be put into practice. Of course, as time passes and the memory recedes, folk would go back to having the expensive gear on the ground floor again. |
#34
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Making a house flood resistant
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "dennis@home" saying something like: The Victorians didn't pave huge areas so the water would run off into the rivers as fast as it fell from the sky. Nor did they drain huge acreages of land. The loss of much of the natural sponge of the countryside is a direct contributor to much of this trouble. |
#35
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Making a house flood resistant
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember TheOldFellow saying something like: I was thinking: knock down the house and build an ark that sits on the same foundations. Tethers short enough to keep it in the plot, but long enough to rise, say 20ft - keep bolt croppers handy to cut loose if necessary. Gas water and electricity through self-sealing connectors. Probably avoids the Building Regs too. Sky News, November 2035 Lifeboat and tug crews have been out all day recovering the town of Cockermouth from the Irish Sea. "It's been a grand day out," said Ivy Till, as she steered her 3-bed apartment back to land. |
#36
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Making a house flood resistant
Tim Downie wrote:
Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house flood resistant. By this I don't mean "keep the water out" as I suspect that this is actually very hard to achieve. ... I have actually toyed with the idea, even before the recent floods. The ground floor would have thick reinforced concrete walls, to give the strength to resist the pressure of the water. I did assume that 2 metres protection would be sufficient, although I'm not sure it would have been in Cockermouth, so the ground floor rooms would only have windows above that level. Obviously, that means the living quarters would need to be at first floor level. The entrance would be at ground floor level, with steps and an hydraulic lift to the first floor, and would be completely lined with impervious materials. There would be a standby generator and foul water would be pumped to a header tank, well above flood level, so nothing could come back up the drains. The garage I planned to build on a pontoon, which I intended to be guided and restrained by vertical posts, so it and anything in it would float. I did also consider fitting a waterproof door at ground level, which would make moving furniture in and out in normal times much easier. Colin Bignell |
#37
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Making a house flood resistant
Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Tim Downie" saying something like: How much of the above is practical? Would it be terribly expensive? What other measures could one incorportate to make recovery from a flood in a flood prone area just an inconvenience rather than a disaster? There's a house a few miles from me that's entirely up on stilts. Car parking and garage/storage underneath and a bungalow above with a really nice deck around it - long before they became common. In fact, the deck is a car ramp, iirc. It's miles from any likely source of flooding, though. Sounds like a Queenslander. They were designed to keep cool with no aircon though - shaded windows, and the breeze blows underneath. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Brisbane1.jpg AKA http://preview.tinyurl.com/yekbdxy Andy |
#38
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Making a house flood resistant
On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:43:26 -0800 (PST), Owain
wrote: On 24 Nov, 18:57, "Nightjar wrote: ... I did also consider fitting a waterproof door at ground level, which would make moving furniture in and out in normal times much easier. Big doors at first floor level and a Dutch style hoist It's a bit inconvenient having to shin down a rope to go to work, though. And hauling the missus up to first floor level with the weekly shopping using a block and tackle sounds like hard work. |
#39
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Making a house flood resistant
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Andy Champ saying something like: There's a house a few miles from me that's entirely up on stilts. Car parking and garage/storage underneath and a bungalow above with a really nice deck around it - long before they became common. In fact, the deck is a car ramp, iirc. It's miles from any likely source of flooding, though. Sounds like a Queenslander. They were designed to keep cool with no aircon though - shaded windows, and the breeze blows underneath. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Brisbane1.jpg Very much like that, but more modern, and almost Italian in style. As I say, you can drive a car up the ramp onto the deck, but I'm unsure if there's enough room to turn or whether reversing is necessary - perhaps there's another ramp at the rear. It's a really nice house and would be perfect almost anywhere, but especially in Cork or Clonmel. |
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Making a house flood resistant
On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:28:03 +0000, Nightjar "cpb"@ wrote:
Owain wrote: On 24 Nov, 14:57, Neil Williams wrote: ... If floods are predicted, the car can be removed to higher ground, Why can't cars float? http://www.amphicars.com/ Or a DUKW if you have a large family... |
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