Wet vs. Dry Floodproofing: Which Is Better?

Many people dream of owning coastal homes with easy access to the beach and beautiful shore views. However, owning a shoreside home does come with a few downsides, such as higher property taxes, saltwater damage, and expensive maintenance fees. One growing concern among coastal homeowners is the threat of flood damage.

According to NASA, climate change has a significant impact on the intensity of storms, which may increase risk and severity of flooding. Luckily, there are ways to prevent and minimize flood damage to your home. In this article, let’s talk about wet and dry floodproofing as methods for controlling flood damage.

We encourage our coastal communities in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, to assess the risk of flooding in their region. If your insurance plan does not cover flood damage, consider adding it to your current policy through your provider or through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program.

Related Article: How to Protect Your Coastal Home from Flood Damage

What Is Floodproofing?

Floodproofing refers to any structural and non-structural additions or adjustments that reduce or eliminate flood damage. It’s an alternative solution for homeowners who, for financial or structural reasons, cannot raise their homes above the water’s surface level.

Before considering floodproofing as a protective measure for your home, you should review FEMA’s requirements to ensure eligibility. FEMA has strict regulations for floodproofing residential and nonresidential buildings. For example, floodproofing is not permitted for homes located in Coastal High Hazard Areas that are subject to high velocity waters from tidal surge or hurricane wave wash.

Wet Floodproofing

Wet floodproofing is any combination of permanent and nonpermanent measures that prevent flood damage by allowing floodwater to enter the structure. While wet floodproofing may seem contradictory, it helps counteract the hydrostatic pressure on the structure by equalizing the water level inside and outside the home. Wet floodproofing is used to limit damages to enclosures below elevated buildings, basements, crawlspaces, or attached garages.

Examples of wet floodproofing include:

• Creating openings that allow passage of floodwater
• Using flood-resistant materials
• Installing a sump pump
• Raising external utility systems

While wet floodproofing protects the integrity of the home’s structure, it does leave some areas above the floodproofing measures at risk of damage. Before considering wet floodproofing, you need to confirm that your home meets the requirements for this type of flood damage prevention.

Dry Floodproofing

Unlike wet floodproofing, dry floodproofing uses various measures to seal the exterior of the home rather than allowing flood water inside the structure. Typically, it is only used for buildings in areas with shallow flooding and is not advised for homes with basements or weaker structural materials.

Examples of dry floodproofing include:

• Installing temporary waterproof membranes on the home’s exterior
• Applying sealants to building walls
• Sealing any openings
• Placing temporary flood shields around doors and windows

Don’t Wait! Protect Your Coastal Home from Flood Damage

Here at Advance Inc., we are proud to offer our communities and customers outstanding services and reliable resources that help protect their homes. Being knowledgeable about the environmental threats in your area is essential to preventing damage and protecting your property.

Considering ways to protect your home against flood damage? Contact Advance Inc. today to speak with a representative and explore how our home improvement services can help.