How to Select Building Materials to Reduce the Effects of Flood Damage

Realizing the essential construction materials and their attributes of how to reduce the severity of flood damage and protection is vital especially in areas prone to such natural disasters. No matter how much safety and protection we tend to put in our home and surrounding structures, but water eventually tends to enter into the wall, floor and other systems. Some materials used in house construction is more resistant to flood water, moisture, and mold as compared to other materials. Choosing to install materials that are more likely to submerge or partially touch the flood water for three days or more is helpful for the structural durability of the house located in the midst of hurricane or flood affected areas.

Additional research and testing is needed of experimenting different materials in the walls of homes and see how well they perform in the draining and drying process. This calls for construction and remodeling techniques to allow the walls, floors, and drainage systems for facilitating the drying and draining of water. Water and vapor must escape seamlessly in a two-way direction in order to fasten the process.

How to choose materials

Choose the materials on the basis of the following characteristics:

·         Water-tolerant or damage resistant

·         Easily cleanable

·         Easy and quick to dry from the walls, floors and systems

·         Mold or rust growth resistant

·         Protection to surrounding structures from catching moisture or water

·         Strong enough to maintain the shape of the material when exposed to water

·         Do not alter the strength and durability of the material from water or moisture exposure

Why do you need to select the above materials?

Cleanup of flood water and debris is easy when such materials are properly installed in a home. Materials should also be strong enough to protect against disinfectants. Do see that paper, wallboard, and natural fiber items for instance, jute, linen, cotton, etc. are prone to mold and corrosion as compared to synthetic materials like olefin and nylon. Some materials are directed to deformation or delamination. Hard surfaces such as those of metal are easier to wipe as compared to porous surfaces like ceiling, upholstered furnishings, and wallboard. The pace of the drying process is affected on how these materials are used to make the walls and floors.

Construct structural systems for draining and drying purposes

It is important that walls, floors and other structural systems should have the ability to dry from at least one direction. During the selection process of the materials to be used in the walls and other systems, it is crucial to take the resistance to flood damage, location and functional factors into consideration. Some materials even have the tendency to dry itself without incurring any damage from the still water.

Contact officials

All before the selection and installation of building materials, contact the local or area building officials and floodplain manager pertaining building requirements. Study the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) along with the state and local requirements.

The NFIP mandates the construction materials to be flood damage repair Baton Rouge in areas located below the Base Flood Elevation. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states a pure flood-resistant material should be able to bear direct contact with water for 72 hours at minimum without acquiring any major damage. Consult the local flood reconstruction and home remodeling companies regarding the standards of top construction materials. Do remember several factors including the house’s design, structure, natural environment, and climatic changes affect the type of materials preferred and insulation methods greatly.