In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how you can protect your beach house from flooding and ensure that your investment stays safe for years to come, even with the unpredictable and wet weather of the Sunshine State.
The first step in protecting your beach house includes assessing the risk in your area. After you’ve got an idea of the risk level, you can take the appropriate measures to secure your home and minimize flood damage.
Protecting Your Beach House: Renovations
Follow these methods in order to keep your beach house safe from flood water:
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Raise the house on stilts
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- Even an inch of floodwater can do a world of damage, so raising the house on stilts (even after it’s built) is a worthy investment.
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Apply sealant and coating
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- You can apply sealant and coating to windows, walls, utilities, exhaust openings, doorways, and the foundation. This stops flood water from seeping in through any present cracks.
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Raise electrical switches and outlets
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- To avoid electrical damage, make sure your switches, sockets, circuit breakers, and outlets are located at least a foot above flood level.
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Upgrade your drains
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- Your drains should have backflow valves to keep flooded sewage from backing up into your beach house.
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Slope the lawn away from the house
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- If your lawn slopes towards your house, water will follow that path and pool around your home. Slope the lawn away for the opposite effect.
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Keep space between siding and mulch
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- Mulch collects moisture, so if it’s stuck to the side of your home, it can cause leaks once the water rises again.
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Direct downspouts away from the house
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- If your downspouts aren’t directed away from your home, water could pool around the corners and cause cracks and eventual leaks.
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Install flood skirts
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- By attaching flood skirts to doors and windows, you can flood-proof that area and keep water out of your home.
Protecting Your Beach House: The Interior
After you’ve made the previous renovations, look inside your beach house to see what can be optimized for flood protection.
The main action you can take is raising your appliances above flood level – and you can do this by placing them on concrete blocks. Here are the appliances that should be above flood level:
- Dryer
- Washing machine
- Generator
- AC unit
- Water heater
- Refrigerator
Stay Protected With Flood Insurance
Another great way to protect your home and wallet is by purchasing flood insurance.
At Chapman Insurance Group, we want to keep your beach house as protected as possible. Get in touch with us for a free quote on flood insurance.
