National trade body the Property Care Association has drawn up a list of measures householders in Fife can take to protect their homes against flooding.

Drawn up to mark Maintenance Week - an upcoming campaign run by SPAB (The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) from the November 19-26 to put building maintenance in the spotlight - the tips cover a wide-range of ideas to help mitigate damage caused by flood waters.

Steve Hodgson, chief executive of the PCA, said: “Unfortunately flooding impacts on far too many homes across the UK.

“It has a catastrophic impact on householders, whose whole quality of life is affected, but there are some measures that can be adopted in modern buildings or during the recovery or refurbishment of older buildings to provide degrees of resilience and protection from the effects of flood water.

“They can help alleviate a good deal of cost and emotion for those affected by flooding.

“For example, recovery works can be speeded up through moving all services, such as boilers and electrical sockets, high up on the wall. Also, kitchens which use materials such as marine ply or steel, can be cleaned, dried and reused.

“The fitting of a membrane to walls and floors, so flood water can run behind it to be collected in a sump/pump unit, rather than entering the property, is another effective measure.”

What are the measures?

The ten measures suggested by the PCA to protect against flooding include:

  • Fitting a flood protection guard to doors or replacing doors completely with a flood resistant alternative. Garage door protection is also available.
  • Replacing standard airbricks with ‘self-closing’ alternatives.
  • Fitting a ‘non return valve’ to prevent sewage going back into the building.
  • Checking brickwork is in good condition and paint with a water-resistant solution.
  • Giving consideration to the fitting of a pump to evacuate water coming from beneath the building.
  • Replacing standard gypsum plaster with one of the alternative types that do not absorb or retain water.
  • Using ceramic or stone tiles with waterproof adhesive and grout.
  • Putting electric sockets higher up the wall (with the cabling coming down from the ceiling, rather than the standard lay-out from below).
  • Purchasing a pump or “puddle sucker” to remove water rapidly after flooding.
  • Replacing kitchens with one that can be cleaned, dried and reused, such as one made of marine ply or steel.