Making a Building Watertight

Sealing a building so water will not enter is called dry floodproofing. The interior spaces, equipment and contents of the building stay dry.

Dry floodproofing, which is called simply "floodproofing" in FEMA publications, is an alternative to elevation for non-residential buildings only - not for homes. New and substantially damaged or improved homes must be elevated. Disaster mitigation funds are not typically used for dry floodproofing a home, though some exceptions have been made on an experimental basis.

Permanent dry floodproofing of an existing building can be done by applying a long-lasting, waterproof sealant coating or membrane over siding (if relatively flat) or brick veneer, or, with greater effort, on the sheathing behind the siding or veneer.

Penetrations in the walls must be sealed. These would include passages for plumbing and for central air-conditioning condensate drains, openings for telephone and electrical lines, and any other channels through the walls. In addition, all doors and windows - and the door frames and window frames - need to be made watertight or be covered with watertight panels during flood events. See also "Using Panels as Closures for Flood Protection" and a description of temporary dry floodproofing by wrapping with plastic: "Flood Wraps and Shields".

This technique has significant drawbacks for wood-frame construction in hot, humid climates, related to moisture control. For these structures it should be a last resort. It should always be done by, or with guidance by, a qualified professional.

The diagram (click to enlarge) shows methods for sealing two types of exterior walls -- Please refer to the diagram above. The critical components of the wall are numbered:

1. Studs
2. Seal small openings around faucets and drain lines
3. Stress on the building is greatest where closure panels meet walls. Closures can be mounted in small, specially constructed floodwalls around doors and windows – rather than directly on the building.
4. Eliminate rain leaks around window frames and apply clear sealant above the level of floodproofing.
5. Use furring strips when installing siding over the self-healing membrane.
6. Use brick tile (pavers) or stucco to improve aesthetics without having to lengthen faucets. If using a full-size brick veneer, pour additional foundation and tie it to the slab, leaving no gaps.
7. Siding
8. Seal brick walls by coating them with asphaltic material, a waterproof polymer product, fibrous coating or waterproof film. Bring sealant down along the slab and several inches below ground level; concrete is porous. Be sure termites can’t penetrate the sealant and that no invisible pathways for termite are created in the installation of dry floodproofing materials.
9. Sheathing
10. A waterproof membrane, shown applied on the sheathing, can be applied over the siding if there is no sheathing. Waterproof roofing film has been used. This self-healing membrane will seal itself around nails or fasteners used to reinstall the siding or new exterior finish.

Considerations

• Permanent dry floodproofing of an existing building, though it may appear simple, is a complex procedure that should be done by professionals. It may be regulated and require permits. It is most suited to areas with clay soils where floods are frequent, short in duration and less than three feet deep.
• The cost of permanent dry floodproofing to three feet, including commercially manufactured panels to cover windows and doors, varies widely in the range of $10 to $20 per square foot of enclosed area. Dry floodproofing does not reduce flood insurance premiums on a home, but may reduce premiums on a non-residential building.
• Buildings on piers or pilings are easier to raise but are more difficult to dry floodproof than buildings on slab. In many cases elevating such structures would be less expensive than dry floodproofing them.
• Dry floodproofing exposes exterior walls of the building to the unbalanced force of water. Properly constructed walls in good condition should be able to withstand the pressure of three feet of water. Buildings poorly constructed or suffering from decay or termite damage may not.
• Depending on the duration of flooding and the ease with which water flows through the soil, a slab foundation may be exposed to buoyant (upward) force. In a flooded building, this is balanced by the weight of water above the slab. When floodwater is excluded, the unbalanced buoyant force may cause slab cracking or, in extreme cases, floatation. 
• Sealing brick veneer walls blocks the weep holes – the small gaps between bricks along the lowest course. The purpose of weep holes is to allow air circulation and drainage of water that leaks around windows and doors, migrates through the brick or condenses behind it. Since weep holes prevent moisture problems and are required by the state residential building codes, blocking them normally is not recommended; however, blocking weep holes may be a better choice than allowing the building to keep flooding.  Measures must be taken to prevent damage from excess moisture in the walls. 
• Ventilating the cavity between the brick and sheathing above the floodproofed level, caulking and flashing windows and doors and applying a clear sealant (or paint) above the floodproofed level may reduce the potential for moisture accumulation in exterior walls. It also may be possible to install drainage valves, which would be sealed during a flood, in place of the weep holes.
• Floodproofing the sheathing behind the brick or siding would allow drainage but is considerably more expensive, especially with brick veneer walls.

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  Tips

• Do not dry floodproof a building more than three feet up the walls without an engineer’s verification of adequate wall strength.
• Do not dry floodproof a building in poor structural condition.
• Avoid using sealant coatings or membranes susceptible to termite damage; be careful not to create hidden paths for termites.
• Sealants must be able to withstand either exposure to sunlight or being sealed in an airtight, dark cavity, and must be stable in extremes of temperature.
• Prevent rain leaks and take measures to reduce moisture penetration above the floodproofing. Frequently look for signs of excess moisture along baseboards. Do not use vinyl wallpaper, oil-based paint or other vapor retarders on the interior sides of floodproofed walls.
• Either use automatic panel closures for windows and doors and maintain them annually, or be sure you have the time and know-how to install non-automatic panel closures.
• Install valves in sewer lines to prevent backflow.
• Have one or more sump areas and pumps to discharge water that may leak or seep in.
• Consider creating holes in the slab floor to relieve buoyant forces; be prepared to collect and pump the water than enters that way
• Have an evacuation plan. Structural failure or over-topping can result in sudden and forceful entry of floodwater. Plan ahead when you will abandon a flood fight and save yourself and your family.

Related articles:

• Flood Wraps and Shields
• Using Panels as Closures in Flood Protection