How to restore a country house after flooding. How to dry the apartment after flooding? Checking the condition of electrical wiring

If violations are allowed in the construction technology of a country house, various adverse consequences are possible, which, at best, entail only financial investments in repairs and correction of errors. One of the common problems faced by private homeowners, and due to inaccuracies in the conduct of construction procedures, is the flooding of the basement of the house. What to do in such an unpleasant situation and how to save the house, read this article.

Basement drying out

There can be many reasons for basement flooding, but they all come down to two main ones:

• with improperly organized waterproofing of construction on a site with a high level of groundwater in the spring, during a flood, the basement will be flooded on a regular basis;
• with errors in the calculation and construction around the building, autumn rains will also cause flooding of the basement.

Regardless of the cause of the flood, the first step is to remove the water from the basement if it is not all gone. To do this, use a hydraulic pump. After cleaning the basement from water, carry out a few more procedures before drying:

• Remove furniture, shelving, and other accessories used to store food and supplies from the basement. If there are wooden elements, take care of them drying under the sun and further processing with protective equipment.
• If the weather continues to be good, open the doors and windows of the basement to let fresh air into the room.

• To eliminate air humidity, place boxes with absorbent substances (charcoal, dry lime) in the basement. If possible, remove the top layer of the floor covering, fill it with dry sand.
• Wipe the walls from condensation and moisture. Treat with a solution of potassium permanganate.
• If you have time and opportunity, fumigate the room with sulfur. Sulfur helps to kill dangerous bacteria that thrive in damp areas. For this procedure, you will need a smoke bomb and time; you cannot enter the room, because the substances are dangerous for human lungs.

How to dry out a basement

There are several common ways to dry the basement, the choice of one of them depends on the availability of fixtures.

• Drying the basement with a brazier. An old bucket will act as a brazier. Make holes in its bottom, attach legs to the bottom - these works are necessary to create traction. Attach the rope hook to the handle. Fill the bucket with birch logs, set it on fire and lower it into the center of the basement. Keep an eye on the brazier, the burning time of which should be at least 12 hours. Remember that going down to the basement at this time is strictly prohibited.
• Drying the basement with a candle. Longer but safer way. Place a spark plug under the vent. Increase the ventilation stroke with an additional segment so that the candle is inside the pipe. Since the procedure will drag on for several days, it is optimal to replace the candle with a gasoline burner. And when using dry alcohol, disinfection of the room will be an additional advantage.
• Drying the basement with electrical appliances. When choosing between electric heaters and a heat gun, give preference to the second option. The technique is more powerful, but will cope with the task faster, saving the family budget.
• Drying the basement with forced ventilation. Installing powerful fans will help dry the basement, but only if there is an exhaust vent.

Basement flood prevention

As in many other cases, the elimination of the consequences takes more time and effort than preventive measures. Prevention of subsequent flooding of the basement is timely waterproofing. Basement waterproofing is necessary during the construction of the house, however, it will not be difficult to do this later, it will not be necessary to solve the house for this. Use one of the modern tools (roofing material, liquid rubber or glass). The choice of basement waterproofing method is unimportant, the main thing is to achieve isolation of the premises from ground moisture for the whole year. After complete drying of the basement and further waterproofing, carried out according to the rules, furniture and shelving can be returned to the room, put in order and used for its intended purpose.

In the article, I talked about several affordable and easy ways to dry the basement after flooding. I hope they help you in your current situation. Well, timely measures taken to protect the basement from moisture will save you from wasting time and money on restoring the premises.

The sooner the worse

When the water starts to recede, everyone wants their buildings to dry quickly. But you must know when to do it so as not to damage the building. When the flood water level is close to the ground and the basement of the building is filled with water, the water is not pumped out. It's a futile attempt, because she'll go back. Can this work be done when the water is completely gone? It depends how high the groundwater is. Water can be pumped out of the basement where the groundwater is below the foundation level.
The pump will create a differential pressure too early on the walls of the basement and foundation. Water will go from outside to empty space. This can cause serious damage to the foundation.
If the water pump is turned on too early, its operation can lead to the formation of voids, channels that in the future will be filled with water even from light rain or snowmelt.
Wall drying
Also, don't rush to dry damp walls. Their gradual drying will not lead to the destruction of the mortar between the bricks. Otherwise, drying destroys the layer of insulation and plaster. It is best to dry naturally in sunny weather with light winds, which will remove moisture from the walls to the outside through open windows and doors.
Another method is to use special electric dryers. Wall drying should be done by professionals who know how to manage the process. For example, if the walls heat up too quickly, the water in them is brought to a boil. After pumping out the water, you need to check the residues in the sandwich panels. To do this, drill holes just above the foundation walls. If water comes out of them, make similar holes in all outer walls at intervals of a meter.
If the gap is filled with mineral wool or loose material (such as sawdust), it will be difficult to cure and dry. This insulation is now worth nothing, with warming, mold and fungus will grow. After drying and disinfecting the building, it is necessary to re-insulate.
First assessment of the technical condition
The first thing to do after pumping water to assess the condition of the building is to determine which elements are needed only dry. First of all, evaluate the condition of the foundations and walls, as well as the condition of the waterproofing work. We should also look for scratches or cracks on columns, beams, ceilings, and for any other visible damage or deformation of structural elements (look for deviations, bending, displacement), door and window deformations.
We'll have to dismantle the floor and check the ceilings. Damage to the substrate can lead to the destruction of the partitions. If the concrete base is not damaged, clean it of dirt, rinse and disinfect. Particular attention should be paid to seams and cracks. If a reinforced concrete slab was poured, holes must be drilled from below in order to drain water. Wooden windows and doors in most cases should be replaced with new ones. Plastic windows and doors withstand flooding better.
Electricity and gas
The duty to check the connection lies with the power station and the gasmen, but the building owner is obliged to check them too. Disassemble the sockets, clean the switches and dry them. Take insulation measurements and then turn on the power.
After the flood, the whole house should be disinfected. There are many preparations for these purposes. Handle them with care, wearing gloves and masks. If the walls are affected by mold, replace the plaster within a radius of about 1 m above the place infected with the fungus (it is better to burn the scraping). You should also burn all wooden parts damaged by water, as they have become a habitat for fungi, bacteria and insects. After the flood, you need to disinfect and disinfest. All these activities must be completed before proceeding with interior decoration.
Furniture and bedding soaked in water and dirt is also likely to be unusable, so it's better to throw it away than keep a hotbed of dangerous bacteria at home.
A few additional tips:
Create maximum ventilation conditions in the apartment by opening windows and doors.
If the water in the house subsided, we move the furniture away from the walls, the carpets need to be removed, the walls should be dried.
If possible, remove flooring, PVC, etc.
The parquet usually dries out for about a month, but usually returns to its place.
Flooded wooden windows and doors are best left closed, as rapid drying can lead to significant distortion and installation problems.
Remove everything from the basement. Metal objects, after cleaning and disinfection, can return to their place.

A house by the water is the dream of many. But how to make sure that this water does not suddenly become a disaster and leave the family homeless? How can you protect yourself from the water element, and what to do if the house is in the flood zone?

Moisture protection measures are necessary for any building, and even more so for one that is built in the risk zone of "high water". Moisture penetrates deep into building structures, where it gradually destroys their integrity and destroys many materials. It is necessary to look for a place where floods are impossible to build a house, since measures to protect the house from water are too expensive. At the same time, this does not mean that a house near the water is necessarily prone to flooding. If you choose the site correctly, you can have a dry dwelling and a beautiful water landscape outside the window.

The most risky places to build a house- these are river valleys, deep beams, the vicinity of lakes and large ponds. But you should not be guided only by flood statistics. There are flooding places even in dry areas, and given that the weather is becoming unpredictable, site selection should be treated with great care.

Rivers often not only lay their own course, but also form a floodplain hundreds and even thousands of meters wide. During the spring flood, this entire area can be under water, so building ordinary houses there is a frivolous matter. This is also stated in the Water Code, which establishes a sanitary gap between reservoirs of various categories and capital buildings.

You can also learn about the water situation on the site from the surrounding landscape. Pay attention to the local wild vegetation. If alder or willow grows on the site itself or in its vicinity, this indicates that the territory is periodically flooded. Well, if there are thickets of reeds, then this already directly indicates the upcoming "floods". From this area you need to retreat a few tens of meters. Or less if the height of the relief rises significantly.

Signs of dry terrain- these are, first of all, coniferous trees that love places where the water is far from the surface. Wild sorrel and thyme also suggest that there is no big water here.

Information about the hydrological situation can be obtained in the process of relevant surveys, which must be carried out before building a house. You need to examine the site in the spring, when the water is as high as possible. It will not be superfluous to work with the local population - to ask them if their basements are flooded after heavy rains, and what level of water is in the wells. If the basements are periodically flooded, then it is better to look for another site for construction.

Proper house design

There is a risk of being in the flood zone even in those areas where there has never been water before. Therefore, it is very important to design a house in such a way as to minimize its consequences in the event of a disaster. In the event of a flood, the second floor or a residential attic is very useful, where you can wait out the time of “high water”. All valuables will be saved if there is somewhere to pick them up. In this sense, you will not envy the inhabitants of one-story houses, because. in the event of a flood, they have nowhere to go. True, if they take care in advance, they can prepare themselves a temporary shelter in the attic. It is desirable that there be at least one window, and it is very good if at least part of the attic space is insulated.

Pile foundations are best suited for houses built in a flood prone area. They are less afraid of soil movements during the period of its moistening. The floor level of the first floor must be raised above the zero mark by at least 60 cm. The basement, and preferably the walls of the first floor, should be built of brick. Wood and adobe are not suitable in this case. Windows must be raised at least 150 cm from the ground.

Inside the house, on the ground floor, finishing must also be chosen taking into account possible contact with water. Drywall, even moisture resistant, is of little use in this case. It is better to use traditional plaster and ceramic tile or natural stone finishes. You can also build a protective wall that will prevent water from entering the house from flooding. It is erected along the entire perimeter of the building with a height of 50-60 cm and buried in the ground by the same amount. The indentation of the protective wall from the house is 20-30 cm. It converges on the porch, which, with its elevation, will not allow water to penetrate into the contour. Such measures help with annual floods, when the water rises for a short time.

flood warnings

Most floods are easy to predict, especially in areas where they occur regularly and at about the same time. The population is notified by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and also gives residents clear instructions about their behavior. In houses that fall into the flood zone, all electrical appliances are disconnected from the network in advance, and water and gas are also blocked at the input. All valuables must be moved to the second floor or attic. If there is a possibility of evacuation, then you need to prepare essential items and pack documents and money in a waterproof container. Essential items include a change of clothes, hygiene products, a set of bed linen, a first aid kit and a three-day supply of provisions and water.

In the event of a flash flood, the first rule is no panic! Actions must be quick and clear, as in a fire. The first step is to de-energize the house, collect documents, money and food and move it to the second floor. Then, evacuate things in descending order of their value. Children should immediately take a place on the top floor or in the attic. In such a situation, various means of extreme survival are very helpful, such as: a magnesium flint, a waterproof flashlight, a flare, a dynamo charger for mobile phones, etc. All this will help to endure inconvenience more calmly and be detected earlier by rescuers.

Life after the flood

It makes sense to visit the house for the first time after the flood not earlier than the “big water” comes down. When its level drops to 0.5 meters, it will be possible to make an initial assessment of losses. Do not forget that during the flood period there are repeated peaks. Pioneers need to have with them all the necessary equipment in case of a recurrence of the flood. To roam knee-deep in water, you will need high rubber boots, or even better overalls. You also need to remember to grab a charcoal respirator, because. very unpleasant odors can be present in the examination area, which can also be harmful. The head must be protected with a construction helmet, because. there is a high probability of collapse of wetted structures.

The picture of flooded housing is not at all encouraging, but there is no need to despair. The likelihood of a home recovering after the water is gone is quite high. During an external examination, you need to pay attention to whether cracks in the outer walls have appeared. It's better not to go inside the house. At the slightest sign of loss of the bearing capacity of the structural elements of the house, you need to seek the help of a professional designer.

If the door does not open, then it is better not to touch it yet, but to enter the house through the window. We immediately pay attention to the ceiling. It can sag due to the collected water after heavy rains. If there is water, then it must be drained, and the ceiling should be supported with wooden or metal racks. Next, the floors and the area directly around the house are examined for the formation of failures. If there are suspicious places, then they are covered with shields made of boards with a thickness of at least 20 mm.

Drying and cleaning. When the water finally leaves, you can begin a full-scale cleansing of the home. You need to start by draining the site in order to divert water from the foundation as quickly as possible. To do this, you need to dig a ditch around the perimeter of the house, and several of the same ditches along the edge of the site. It is even better to lay several drainage pipes at the stage of building a house. Then the water will drain faster and cause less damage to buildings.

The house needs to be cleaned of dirt caused by water. This is done by hand with a shovel and a wheelbarrow. Next, you need to ensure good ventilation of the premises so that the house dries as quickly as possible, and mold does not have time to start in it. Today, to speed up the drying of walls, special drying equipment is used, which creates weak electromagnetic radiation, which positively charges moisture in the area of ​​​​its action. As a result, moisture moves towards the negatively charged soil and is thus forced out.

All wet property must be disinfected, but for this it must first be dried. It is best to dry things in the shade, especially furniture that can be deformed in the sun. All wet cabinet furniture made of chipboard is irretrievably lost - you can not suffer with it, and immediately put it on firewood.

Restoration work after the flood

It is possible to start repairing a dwelling that has been flooded not earlier than after the building structures are completely dry. Outwardly, they may appear dry, but they take 4 to 6 months to dry completely. While you can do the acquisition and delivery of materials and preparatory work. If the house has cracks, then beacons need to be installed on them. If cracks diverge wider than 10 mm, you need to contact specialists who will suggest a further work plan to eliminate their causes.

Dismantling of the damaged parts of the house is carried out in the direction from top to bottom. Broken walls can not be replaced, but reinforced with an additional layer of brick or aerated concrete masonry. The most costly case is the violation of the foundation of the building.

In soaked rooms, all finishes must be removed, after which the surfaces are treated with calcium chloride or chloramine. Then they repair or replace window and door blocks. Finally, they move on to the final stage of restoration work - finishing. And then - they perform good drainage of the site, and carry out a set of measures to protect against "big water" in the future.

It's no secret that in our region the arrival of autumn is always accompanied by heavy and prolonged precipitation. This September was no exception. Due to heavy rains, other reservoirs of the Leningrad region overflowed the banks of the river. Particularly affected this year are residents of flooded houses in Roshchino, Tosno, Vsevolozhsk, Murino and other settlements.

Of course, it is not in our power to prevent rivers from flooding and stop precipitation, but we will try to give some practical advice on restoring a wooden house after flooding.

The interior of the house after the flood

Removal

It is necessary to remove all parts and elements that are irretrievably damaged, as well as those that will interfere and prevent the drying of wooden walls and floors.

All flooring, trim, drywall and insulation must be removed. Unfortunately, you cannot save a single wooden floor: even if it looks good now, it will still deform in the future.

It is possible that you will also have to replace cabinets, cabinets and interior doors that have been in the water for a long time if they were painted or made of wood composite materials. Sometimes furniture and doors can be saved if you decide to remove the damaged paint layer and repaint them.

Cut the drywall and insulation approximately 30-40 cm above the flood water level.

Sometimes tile floors can remain undamaged by water - this depends on the type of adhesive used for the tiles.

cleaning

After flooding, there is usually a lot of dirt left. Once the house is free of dirt and debris, wash house walls, floors, stairs and other wooden parts with high pressure water.

For washing, use such effective products as and which will not only clean the wood from darkening and dirt, but also prevent the appearance of fungus and mold.

Try not to use bleaches as they can change the color of the wood. If you still decide to use bleach, then take no more than 100 ml per 4 liters of water and treat only the areas affected by water, without affecting the dry ones.

Apply cleansers from the bottom up, and then thoroughly wash the dirt down the walls, across the floor, and out the door.

Drying

Dry all log and other wooden parts of the house. Dehumidifiers are perfect for this task. They are of different types. At room temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius (basements, garages), it is better to use adsorption-type dehumidifiers. If electricity is not available, do your best to ensure good, constant air circulation. If there is only one dehumidifier, use it in one room at a time with the doors closed - continuously until the moisture content of the wood in the wettest area drops to 17%.

If your home has a basement or cellar, cover all vents there, install a new vapor barrier, and use dehumidifiers. This will quickly dry out the space under the house. If there is no electricity, consider removing part of the floor ceiling to provide the necessary air circulation.

Disinfection and antiseptic (prevention and removal of rot, fungi and mold)

It will be necessary to treat the house with antiseptics for wood immediately after cleaning, as soon as the wood becomes dry to the touch. Spray liberally with an antiseptic or anti-mold and fungus preparation on all items that get wet. Modern preparations work wonders, stopping the growth of mold and fungi, destroying the stains and odors that accompany them (we recommend such proven preparations as well). You may need to re-treat if the drying time at home is prolonged due to a lack of electricity or equipment. Suitable for removing mildew from all surfaces Glutoclean .

Antiseptics for a wooden house Lignofix (Lignofix)

Preventive and curative antiseptics for wood. Means for protecting wood from rotting, blue stain, wood-destroying insects, fungi and mold.

Czech preparations Lignofix are professional, highly ecological, effective and economical water-based wood preservatives that do not create problems for the subsequent use of any paint systems.

Replacement and restoration

We recommend replacing all electrical outlets, switches, and other equipment that has come into contact with water. Otherwise, the further operation of the electrical network threatens with serious dangers. If you are not completely confident in your abilities, it is better to call a professional electrician. In the frame structure, it will be necessary to replace hydro and thermal insulation, drywall and wall finishing. If you have a lot of open frame elements, we recommend that you make sure that they are additionally antiseptic. Also apply a borate-containing antiseptic, preferably powdered, to the floor before reinstalling cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms, which will help prevent cockroaches, ants and other insects from entering there later.

If your wooden walls have not been previously treated with impregnations and finishes, they may darken. The longer the wood is wet, the more likely it is to change color. In this case, you will need special bleaching agents that do not damage the wood structure. Such restorative agents can be Wood Renew based on a salt of carbonic acid or Oxcon containing oxalic acid. If the walls have been finished with a top coat and the discoloration has occurred underneath, it should be removed by sanding and then one of the wood cleaners should be used to even out the color of the wood. After this procedure, recoat the walls.

The last step is to replace the wooden floors.

What to do with wooden facades, windows and doors

Fortunately, log walls on the outside are much more resistant to water and dirt if they have been previously treated with an antiseptic and facade impregnation. Usually, after drying, wooden facades look normal and require only a good surface cleaning from dirt, and possibly traces of moisture.

As a rule, it is enough to use a specialized cleaner to remove dirt - we recommend Log Wash. Some wooden elements, for example, platbands, all kinds of overlays with tenon joints, may need to be replaced. Exterior doors and windows (especially wooden ones) should be carefully examined: they may also need to be replaced or repaired. Metal and fiberglass doors that get wet may look great on the outside, but water that gets inside takes a long time to dry out and can eventually cause problems.