The rising Tweed had entered the building and risen up through floors to 9” above the ground floor level damaging the underfloor insulation, plaster and lath to walls, press timber linings, the fitted kitchen, bathroom tiling, underfloor heating and the electrical circuit.

Following a period of drying Craig assessed the condition of the building fabric to determine what could be salvaged and what needed replacement. The Client was also keen to introduce measures to improve the flood resilience of the building.

In specifying the reinstatement works, Craig appraised various alternative measures to improve the future flood resilience and provided cost / benefit assessments to enable the Client to consider where to invest over and above the cost of reinstatement works that were reimbursable under the insurance policy.

With the preferred scope of works agreed, tenders were invited and a contractor appointed Craig monitored the quality and progress of works and managed all cost variations and valuations through to successful completion.

Craig assisted in identifying, applying for and obtaining grant assistance from the local authority on behalf of the Client.

The flood resilience improvement works included:

• Replacing low level plaster and lath with moisture resistant plasterboard.
• Replacing underfloor wool insultation with hydrophobic insulation board.
• Repointing low level masonry externally and within the solum.
• Forming a screed within the solum, draining to new sumps. This to reduce rising water penetration and control any water otherwise entering the floor void.
• Installation of 2 sump pumps within floor void serviced by a standby emergency diesel generator.
• Provision of emergency power sockets and lighting supplied by the new generator for use in event of power failure.
• Replacement of external doors with flood resistant doors.
• Installation of self-closing air bricks, set behind retained original metal grills.
• Provision of non-return valves to waste pipework.
• Kitchen refitted with non-integrated plinth mounted appliances.
• Raising electrical sockets and distribution board above flood risk height.