Datchet, Wraysbury, Old Windsor and parts of Windsor sit on low-lying ground beside the Thames, with lakes and gravel pits nearby. When the river is high and the ground is saturated, homes here can be affected by both river flooding and rising groundwater.
Before winter
- Sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings for your area
- Check your buildings and contents insurance covers flood
- Keep gutters, gullies and drains clear
- Know where your stopcock and electrics are, and how to turn them off
- Keep valuables and important documents upstairs or raised
- Consider flood barriers for doors and air bricks, and non-return valves on drains
Below-ground rooms
Cellars and basements in this area can take on water when groundwater rises. A waterproofing system with a sump pump, ideally with a back-up pump and alarm, helps manage it.
If water gets in
- Make it safe: water and electrics don’t mix
- Photograph everything and contact your insurer
- Remove wet contents and damaged finishes
- Dry the structure properly, monitoring with moisture readings, before any repairs
Repairing with resilience in mind
When a home has to be repaired after a flood, it can be worth choosing finishes that recover better from water, such as lime or water-resistant plasters, tiled floors and raised sockets.
See water damage restoration in Berkshire and basement waterproofing in Berkshire.
