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When it comes to flooding, nothing can prepare for the devastation and destruction that is caused by flood waters inside a property.
For the owners of this historic watermill in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, this prospect became a reality after winter storms brought high levels of rainfall to the area.
The flood was the result of a perfect storm of environmental and geographical conditions. The property itself is built into a bank and earth-retaining, making it more at risk from ground water penetration. Furthermore, the parallel access road is also 4-metres higher than the ground floor level.
Lastly, the stream that traditionally powered the old mill is directed through the bank and under the access road via 1-metre wide concrete pipes. During periods of heavy rainfall these pipes can restrict the flow of water downstream, creating a serious flood risk for the adjacent mill.
In the aftermath of the New Years flood, the owners needed a permanent solution to protect themselves and their property.
Following the floods, the property underwent a full strip-out as part of the insurance restoration. The owners then approached Newton Specialist Contractor Stonehouse to design, install and guarantee a flood-resilient system to protect their home.
Stonehouse are no strangers to protecting properties from flooding, so they were the ideal contractor to deliver a permanent and maintainable solution.
Previous flooding caused extensive damage internally
The location of the historic watermill and its proximity to the stream put the property at high risk from future flood events
The overflowing stream had previously completely flooded the ground floor of the property
The CDM System was installed throughout the ground floor
20mm floor membrane provides a high drainage capacity
The first step was to reduce the old building’s permeability and decrease the potential water ingress during future floods. Stonehouse applied water-resistant plaster to all brick walls, linked to the concrete floor with Newton’s cementitious waterproof barrier membrane, HydroCoat 103 2K.
The second form of defence was a full internal CDM System, known as cavity drain waterproofing. This maintainable solution used a combination of the 508R membrane to provide robust protection on the walls, and 520 eco Floor membrane to give a high drainage capacity across the floor.
Captured water is directed to three Titan-Pro sump chambers cast into the floor, each containing two NP eco 750 pumps. The system has a potential pumping capacity of over 1,500 litres/minute, with three Newton battery back-up systems delivering complete peace of mind in case of power outages.
The complete and guaranteed system, alongside new flood-resistant doors, has provided reassurance to the owners, keeping their home completely dry during further flood events.
One of the pump systems in action during flooding
And after flooding - the property stays dry
20mm floor membrane provides a high drainage capacity
The CDM system provides complete protection against water
A new screed was poured over the floor membrane
The newly protected property will be kept dry for years to come
"From a position of hopelessness after our flood, Stonehouse’s innovation, professionalism and good cheer has really helped us have faith in our house again." The Homeowner
Our staff are able to provide guidance for projects of all sizes, whether you require some general advice about damp or waterproofing, or support with technical drawings and specifications.