We’ve all seen the news the last few years about the increased frequency of extreme weather episodes like hurricanes and tornadoes and the damage they leave in their wake. While people living near the coast typically get the worst of it, heavy rains can also affect people further inland.
However, it’s easy for people who own homes built on a slab instead of a basement to assume they’re immune to flooding, but as we’ll see in this post, that’s not the case.
Slab Foundation Flood Dangers
Slab foundations are indeed more resistant to flooding than homes with a basement. Still, heavy rains, overflowing creeks, rivers, and streams can cause water levels to rise to flood levels, which can negatively impact your home, even if it’s built on a slab.
The most common slab damage that results from flooding is erosion, which can cause cracked floors, walls, and ceilings and allow water to enter the home. Furthermore, heavy flooding and water pressure can be strong enough to pull the foundation away from the walls, leading to water damage throughout the house.
You may not realize it, but water moving at 10 miles per hour can exert the same pressure as wind gusting at 270 miles per hour, and that’s more than enough to cause significant damage to your home’s foundation.
Another problem caused by floodwaters is undercutting, which happens when the soil under the foundation becomes overly saturated and begins to erode. The issue is that homeowners often don’t notice the problem immediately. Several months may go by before you see foundation cracks, and by that time, you’re typically facing significant and expensive repairs.
Slab Foundations Can’t Stop Water Damage
In 2021, the remnants of a bomb cyclone over the Pacific Ocean spread heavy rains across areas of the mid-Atlantic, causing historic levels of flooding and causing the Potomac River to surge by 5.99 feet. Affected areas included Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the tidal basin around Washington D.C., and portions of Annapolis, Maryland; Wildwood, New Jersey; New York City, and Boston, with higher than average rainfall.
But storms like that are outliers. Right?
Yes, but there are plenty of Nor-easters to worry about too. According to weather.gov,
A Nor-easter is a storm along the East Coast of North America, so-called because the winds over the coastal areas are typically from the northeast. Nor-easters usually develop in the latitudes between Georgia and New Jersey within 100 miles east or west of the East Coast.
With the constant risk of Nor-easters and the increased frequency of hurricanes, the potential for home flooding is a concern for everyone. Besides the damage to slab foundations that result from flooding, if water levels rise high enough, they can penetrate the home regardless of whether your house rests on a slab or a basement foundation.
Another thing to consider is that flooding happens apart from weather-related incidents. Many people don’t think about it, but flooding occurs due to overburdened or clogged sewer and drainage lines and dam failures.
While it’s easy to think that flooding is rare, consider these stats:
- 99% of U.S. counties were impacted by a flooding event between 1996 and 2019.
- Since 2000, flood damage has quadrupled.
- One inch of floodwater can cause more than $25,000 in damage.
Floodwater in the home can saturate drywall, carpets, and flooring, and if you don’t get rid of all the moisture as soon as possible, you could end up with a severe mold problem that can affect your family’s health.
If you live in an area prone to flooding or are in the danger zone for Nor-easters or coastal storms, it’s wise to do everything possible to protect your home against flood damage.
EnduraFlood™ Wall Paneling System Protects Homes During Floods
While it’s impossible to stop Mother Nature, you can take steps to limit the damage she does. Whether you own a home with a basement or slab foundation, the EnduraFlood Flood Proof Wall System can minimize the damage and decrease the cleanup time resulting from a flood.
Our patent-pending wall panels are styled after traditional wainscoting and make your home more elegant while offering superior protection compared to similar products.
EnduraFlood panels are easy to remove thanks to the snap-in fittings, giving you access to the foundation wall, insulation, etc., should those areas need to dry out after a flood. Once dry, the panels snap quickly back into place.
The EnduraFlood Wall System is engineered to be solid and long-lasting; its cement construction makes it durable and able to withstand just about any bump and bang your kids can dish out.
All evidence says that the extreme weather episodes and Nor-easters will become more frequent in the coming years, and you can’t wait on the city or state government to develop a solution to keep your home safe during a flood. EnduraFlood is a beautiful-looking, cost-effective system to provide your home with a first line of defense against flooding.