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Summary
Waterproofing and Flood Protection for a Period Watermill, Kent
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.
The Project
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.
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Previous flooding caused extensive damage internally
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The location of the historic watermill and its proximity to the stream put the property at high risk from future flood events
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The overflowing stream had previously completely flooded the ground floor of the property
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The CDM System was installed throughout the ground floor
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20mm floor membrane provides a high drainage capacity
The Solution
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 Result
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.
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One of the pump systems in action during flooding
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And after flooding - the property stays dry
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20mm floor membrane provides a high drainage capacity
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The CDM system provides complete protection against water
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A new screed was poured over the floor membrane
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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
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