A flood can be a very traumatic experience that affects the structural integrity of your West Chester, PA, home and results in considerable water damage to your valuables. Additionally, you can’t return home until water extraction and flood damage restoration is performed.
However, by implementing dry flood-proofing, you can reduce the risk of flood damage. Want to know how? Let’s take a look!
Implementing Dry Flood-Proofing
Sealants
Sealants can be helpful in preventing leakage in your home.
These sealants are generally materials or compounds that are applied to either the outside or inside surfaces of walls (depending on the available wall surface and the recommended use for the sealant).
Floods Result in $6 Billion in Losses on Average Every Year
Apart from application on walls, sealants are also used to seal structural joints, such as:
- The joint between a slab floor and the walls
- Other openings present under the flood level (like ones where different utility lines get into your home through the floor and walls)
Types of Sealants
There are two types of sealants that can be used for your home:
- Coatings
- Polyethylene Films
Coatings
- Asphalt and Cement-Based Coatings: These are highly effective but their application changes the wall’s appearance
- Clear Coatings: Clear coatings like polyurethanes and epoxies tend to be less effective but they do not affect the wall’s aesthetic appeal
Types of Floods – Overbank Flooding | Flash Floods | Levee or Dam Failure | Ice Jam Flooding
Polyethylene Films (Wrapped Home Method)
Instead of using coatings, you can make use of the wrapped home method, in which the lower portion of the home is wrapped in polyethylene film to prevent water damage.
However, this technique is generally only used during an emergency and is a temporary solution. In addition, certain requirements need to be followed when this method is utilized.
Wrapped Home Technique – Requirements to Be Followed
- Polyethylene film is to be applied right next to the walls so that the necessary resistance against water pressure is provided by the wall instead of by the polyethylene film
- There should also be a temporary water extraction and drainage system for collecting and disposing of any water that leaks through holes in the polyethylene film
- The wrapped home method should only be used when the flood depth is expected to be no more than one foot and the flooding duration is anticipated to be less than 12 hours
If your home has suffered flood damage and you’re looking for a firm to take up the task of flood damage restoration, you should get in touch with us.
The water damage repair experts at ServiceMaster Professional Cleaning and Restoration have several years of experience with such tasks using the necessary equipment and cleaning solutions to ensure your home is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Just give us a call on our emergency helpline number, at (610) 431-3553, and our technicians will immediately reach your West Chester, PA, home to start water damage cleanup.