Shepperton, Sunbury, Staines and Laleham sit beside the Thames on gravels, with parts of each town in the river’s flood plain. Many residents remember the floods of winter 2014, and high groundwater remains a concern after long wet spells.
Groundwater as well as river flooding
Flooding doesn’t only come over the riverbank. When the ground is saturated, the water table rises and can come up through floors and into cellars, even in homes some distance from the river.
What it does to homes
- Saturated walls that take months to dry fully
- Salts left in plaster, causing damp patches long after the water has gone
- Swollen and failed floors, and decay in timber floors
- Mould where drying hasn’t been completed before redecoration
Restoring a flood-damaged home
- Record the damage and contact your insurer
- Remove damaged finishes and contents
- Dry the structure with dehumidifiers and air movers, taking moisture readings to track progress
- Repair only once readings confirm the structure is dry
Improving resilience
When repairing after a flood, it can be worth choosing more water-resistant materials and finishes, raising electrical sockets, and considering a waterproofing system for any below-ground rooms.
Spelthorne is just up the river from our Thames Ditton office. See water damage restoration in Middlesex and basement waterproofing in Middlesex.
