Hallo! I am new to the forum so excuse me if this topic has come up before. I am considering buying a cottage. However, the land to the west of it floods every winter. The flooding rises to about 120cm. Between the cottage and the flood-filled fields is a country road about 2 meters wide. The flooding doesn't come on to the road but sort of laps on to it at a height of a cm or two. I am told that the flooding (caused by a winter lake) has never come any further and has never inundated the house. However, I want to do all I can to protect against unexpected flooding. What can I do? Is there the risk that the flood water is seeping underground in under the foundation of the cottage? Should I just forget buying this cottage as the work needed to floodproof it would be too much and too expensive? I would be grateful for any help and advice from anyone who experienced such a situation.
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Flood Proofing
- Thread starter Feargal
- Start date
Flyfisher
Member
- Messages
- 10,198
- Location
- Norfolk, UK
There's an article in one of today's papers (not sure which, because I was browsing through the papers in a cafe) that describes one family's solution to the problem. They had their house taken apart bit by historic bit and then reassembled on a new raised foundation. Apparently it worked a treat this winter, but the cost (£100,000)** might put you off the idea.
Another solution, featured on the telly over a year ago, was to surround the house and garden with a solid earthwork. It was most impressive, filmed from a helicopter during some horrendous floods - acres and acres of water with the house and garden dry as a bone. I doubt it cost the owner much more than the hire of some earth-moving equipment.
** In their case it was probably worth it, because the flooding problem had pushed the value of the house down by about the same amount.
Another solution, featured on the telly over a year ago, was to surround the house and garden with a solid earthwork. It was most impressive, filmed from a helicopter during some horrendous floods - acres and acres of water with the house and garden dry as a bone. I doubt it cost the owner much more than the hire of some earth-moving equipment.
** In their case it was probably worth it, because the flooding problem had pushed the value of the house down by about the same amount.
David Dyer
Member
- Messages
- 31
- Location
- Berkshire
Don't tell Nemisis but you've been reading the Daily Mail and it was about a non listed 'Period Property' that had been rebuilt.
Not sure we should mention it on this site.
Not sure we should mention it on this site.
I have a similar problem being on land between two rivers just before they meet (at the bottom of my paddock). The cottage has been there for at least 200 - 250 years but gives insurance companies screaming fits ("you said TWO rivers?") although it didn't flood in 2000 (worst ever floods in the area). I have built / am building a 1 metre high wall around the property - it should cope with most things that the rivers can do and if necessary you can get barriers for gates and doorways etc.. Look at
http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/protection/index.htm
for info - there are links to various sites
http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/protection/index.htm
for info - there are links to various sites