Each year, water damage and removal across the U.S. amounts to around $13 billion, with the average insurance claim on homes valued at more than $10,000. Additional data show that some 14,000 Americans are dealing each day with an emergency due to damages caused by water on private residences. Flooding, which is among the most destructive causes of home water damage, poses dangers not only in terms of monetary value but also in terms of the safety of home occupants.
With these key data in mind, it’s easy to realise how important it is to keep your home safe from potential water damage whether due to flooding or leaks. If you’re eying a remodelling project soon, you should strongly consider having some critical upgrades to water-proof your home the best way possible.
Take inspiration from these handy renovation tricks to lower the chances of home water damage or flooding occurring on your own property:
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Upgrade your storm drainage system.
If your current storm drainage system is not commensurate to the volume of floodwater that comes into your property, then it’s time to do an upgrade. Flooding is bound to happen if your pipes or culverts are not large or efficient enough to allow in as much floodwater as possible.You should, therefore, strive to include in your renovation plan provisions for better steel trench drain grates, pipes, and other components that make up your storm drainage system that is connected to the public storm drainage system. This might be a bit costly when compared with other home upgrades but is one that you would definitely thank yourself for whenever the storm season comes.
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Install a better gutter system.
Another excellent upgrade to include in your planned renovation is getting better gutters. While you might think that all gutters are made of the same materials and function exactly the same way, there are actually several gutter systems available. These types include K-style, half-round, and custom-built fascia with the common materials being copper, aluminium, vinyl, and zinc. It’s critical that you do your homework when choosing which type of material to choose for your gutter system upgrade since making the wrong choices could only backfire.
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Mind your grading.
Proper grading is one of the cheapest, yet most effective means of preventing flooding in any property. Grading is simply the process of achieving a level base or varying the incline or elevation of the slope to get the desired effect. In the case of flood prevention, you would want a grading approach where the slope gently lowers from your home’s foundation and into your yard. Ideally, water from the downspouts should veer safely away from your house and into your drains. There also has to be zero spots where pooling could occur during heavy rains to prevent water from coming into your property.
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Invest in floodgates/door guards.
Flood gates and door guards are another outstanding renovation add-ons when flooding is your primary worry. These flood-prevention items can be easily installed into garage doors and other points of entry in any home to keep floodwater from finding its way inside where it could cause costly damages. These days, homeowners gradually realise the benefits of flood gates and door guards, which explains their rising popularity and commercial success.
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Install sump pumps strategically.
Sump pumps are a worthy investment since they are essentially your ultimate line of defence against flooding on your property. You should install them strategically, preferably in areas where flooding is most likely. You are the best judge of this since you know your property well. While most sump pumps run on electricity, there are models that are battery-powered, so they would still function even when there’s a power outage due to flooding. If you can, go for a battery-powered sump pump to ensure that you’ll have a reliable anti-flooding instrument whatever the situation may be.
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Place flood sensors.
Flood sensors are excellent early warning systems that property owners should invest in if their respective budgets allow. If there are fire and smoke alarms that detect fire incidents at their onset, flood sensors offer the same precautionary benefit to property owners. These sensors are not activated by flooding alone, but also by creeping leaks that are hard to visually spot. The fact that flood sensors are triggered by gentle trickles makes them extremely beneficial for property owners who want to avoid home water damage due to leaks or flooding.
With these awesome home renovation ideas aimed at flood prevention, you could sleep during storms better knowing that your home has enough safety nets to prevent water damage.
