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Historic Buildings
Summary
We know that the risk of flooding is likely to increase as a result of a changing
climate and the effects of increased urban development. Estimates suggest
the number of people at high risk from flooding could rise from 1.5 million to
3.5 million by 2080. Currently around 400,000 homes and 75,000 businesses in
England are located in areas where there is a significant annual chance of river
or coastal flooding (greater than a 1.3 per cent annual chance, or once every 75
years on average). More homes are at risk from surface water, groundwater or
sewer flooding, which is much harder to predict than river or coastal flooding.
Many of these buildings will have been constructed before 1919 and will
therefore be of historic importance.
As well as damage to property and infrastructure, flooding results in a
significant human cost. Not only do householders lose possessions and suffer
damage to their properties when there is a flood, but often they are also forced
to endure the disruption and stress caused by several months of evacuation.
Since the 2007 floods there have been major consultations and reviews
undertaken by government and other regulatory organisations and a much
greater recognition of the need for coordinated flood-risk management at
a local level. This was a particular emphasis of the Pitt Review, Learning the
Lessons from the 2007 Floods (2008) and the Department of Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ongoing programme Making Space for Water,
which takes a holistic approach to the management of risk from all forms of
flooding (river, coastal, groundwater, surface run-off and sewer) to help deliver
sustainable development. This need for a more comprehensive management
of flood risk for people, houses and businesses has been incorporated into the
Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
Integrated flood-risk management is essential if the historic environment is
to be protected from flood damage, and effective communication between
all those involved is therefore vital in securing the appropriate response. Co-
operation with national agencies such as the Environment Agency is key to
managing risks at a local level. Local Flood Resilience Forums also now have a
very important role in helping manage the risks as well as providing integrated
emergency management.
This guidance has been written and compiled by David Pickles with
contributions from Peter Rhodes, Janice Gooch, Jonathan Garlick and the
SPAB Technical Panel, Nick Kelly, Phil Hadley and Simon Berry.
www.HistoricEngland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/flooding-and-historic-buildings/
Cover images
top left: Environment Agency engineers erecting bottom left: Houses flooded in Stratford Upon Avon,
temporary flood barriers. Warwickshire 2007.
[photo Environment Agency] [photo PA]
centre left: Houses flooded at Bewdley, Worcestershire top right: Fan assisted drying at a church
after the River Severn burst its banks. in Gloucestershire.
[photo Paul Glendell] bottom right: Flooding to shops in Tewkesbury 2007
[photo Nick Kirk/PA]
Contents
Introduction. . ................................. 1 5 After a flood:
minimising flood damage
in old buildings. . ................... 18
1 Types of flooding.................... 3
5.1 Waiting for the water to recede.................20
1.1 River flooding................................................3 5.2 Initial drying, decontamination
1.2 Coastal flooding. . ..........................................3 and cleaning. . ..............................................20
1.3 Surface, ground water and 5.3 Assessing and recording the damage
sewer flooding..............................................3 post-flood survey. . ......................................21
5.4 Drying out. . ..................................................23
5.5 How flooding affects historic
2 Establishing flood risk. . ........... 5 building materials. . .....................................32
5.6 Monitoring the long-term effects. . .............36
02
Image 01 Image 02
Flooding at Bewdley 2007 Debris from the River Cocker outside homes in
[photo Paul Glendell] Cockermouth, Cumbria 2009
[photo Anna Gowthorpe/PA]
This advisory note provides guidance for home- Sources of further information and practical help
owners, owners of small businesses and others are listed at the end of the document.
involved with managing historic buildings on ways
to establish flood risk and prepare for possible Information on specific historic buildings and
flooding by installing protection measures. It also guidance on whether remedial treatments and
recommends actions to be taken during and after repairs require consent should be sought from the
a flood so as to minimise damage and risks. conservation officer in the local planning authority.
1.1 River flooding Most coastal change occurs rapidly during extreme
storm and flood events. Coastal barriers may be
River flooding is usually the result of high breached permanently so that sites that formerly
convective rainfall causing river levels to rise. were protected behind barrier beaches, shingle spits
Rivers vary in the way they cope with the or dunes become tidal and subject to marine erosion.
additional water depending on their capacity
and access to the flood plain. Flood plains allow
the storage of excess water, which reduces water 1.3 Surface, ground water and
volume and slows down the flow in a river. sewer flooding
Development on flood plains can reduce flood-
storage capacity and have a significant effect, This type of flooding is usually the result of sudden
creating flooding further down river where it had torrential rain, particularly in urban areas, and can
not previously occurred. be highly unpredictable. Drainage systems are
unable to cope with the excess water and overflow.
When forecasts show the likelihood of flooding Much damage can occur as a result. Where foul
from rivers the Environment Agency issues flood sewers surcharge into the flood, the floodwater
warnings to householders and/or businesses that will be contaminated with sewage. Water companies
might be affected. are responsible for the foul-water and surface-
water sewerage system if it has been adopted.
Contaminated silts left behind when floodwaters
1.2 Coastal flooding recede can present significant health risks.
Coastal flooding is caused by a combination of Flash flooding can be particularly bad in summer
high tides and waves. High tides usually occur months when there has been little rainfall and
in spring and again in autumn. A build-up of low the ground is very dry and hard. The water then
pressure can coincide with high tides and lead to runs straight off the land with very little absorbed
a tidal surge. The Environment Agency monitors into the ground. There is similarly a problem if
tides around the UK coastline and issues warnings the ground is already saturated with groundwater
when there is a danger of flooding. The risk of when heavy rain occurs. The ever-increasing
coastal flooding can be made worse by high water amount of impermeable hard landscaping only
in rivers and estuaries that drain into the sea. makes the problem worse.
03 04
05 06
Images 0306
03. The River Severn overflowing its banks at 05. This thatched cottage suffered considerable
Worcester in 2007. damage from water after a roof fire.
04. Road drains being cleared at Wescott, Devon after [photo Darrel Sykes]
drainage is overwhelmed by torrential rain. 06. Reculver, Kent. The partly ruinous medieval church
[photo Ben Birchall/PA] is on the site of a Roman fort and an Anglo-Saxon
monastery. The site is now heavily defended with
rock-rubble armouring, without which it would
erode rapidly.
The risk assessment should take into account: Risk is divided into three levels for the flood
mapping:
the local topography is the building near
a river, stream or ditch, in a flood plain or at significant the chance of flooding in any
risk of sea floods? How high is the building year is greater than 1 . 3 per cent ( 1 in 75)
above the flood-risk level? Are there flood
defences already in place or are they moderate the chance of flooding in any
planned for the future? year is 1.3 per cent (1 in 75) or less but
greater than 0.5 per cent ( 1 in 200)
the history of flooding in the area when
and how frequently have floods occurred in low the chance of flooding in any year is
the past? What caused them? How high did 0.5 per cent ( 1 in 200) or less.
the floodwaters rise?
Flood mapping is a key part of flood-risk
Establishing the flood risk of a property from a management and will continue to be refined as
range of sources can be complex. A good starting more information is added. At present it covers:
point is the Environment Agency flood map, which
shows the risks from river and coastal floods. This flooding from rivers or sea without defences
mapping does not include other sources such as the natural flood-plain area that could
flash sewer flooding and groundwater flooding. be affected
There is also no indication of flood depth, speed
or volume of flow. extent of extreme flood 0.1 per cent chance
07
08 09
Images 0709
07. Tewkesbury Abbey surrounded by floodwater 08. St Margarets Church Kings Lynn, showing a long
There was a good understanding in the past where history of flood events.
to build to avoid flooding. [photo SPAB]
[photo PA] 09. Flooding in the Cotswolds 2007.
[photo Simon Cairns/Cotswold DC]
11 12
Images 1012
10. Temporary flood defences such as this erected 11. Investment by the Environment Agency in flood
around the Plough Inn at Upton, Worcestershire can defences continues but many vulnerable buildings
prevent much damage. will remain unprotected.
[photo David Davies/PA] [photo Environment Agency]
12. Temporary flood barriers in place as river levels rise
at Bewdley, January 2008.
[photo Stephen Pond/PA]
There are three stages of flooding that need to 3.2 Protecting old buildings
be considered: from flooding
16
17 18 19
20
21
Images 1421
14. Sandbags can provide a limited but often effective 19. These buildings close to the River Thames have
protection against minor flooding. permanent flood protection measures in place.
[photo Paul Glendell] [photo Douglas Kent/SPAB]
15. Proprietary temporary flood protection measures 20 Interlocking multiple boards providing protection at
can avoid much damage and be easy to install. the gateway to a house in Chiswick, London.
[photo Floodgate] [photo Douglas Kent /SPAB]
16. Vent and airbrick covers such as these can prevent 21. A permanent floodgate to protect a house in
significant amounts of water entering buildings. Kings Lynn.
[photo Floodgate] [photo SPAB]
17+18. Sash windows fitted with slots to hold
temporary flood barriers.
[photo John Fidler]
plumbing can be fitted with backflow valves Planning consent may be required for work to
to prevent water or sewage entering the a building within a conservation area. Check
building from drains and sewers with your conservation officer. Consent from
the Secretary of State on the advice of Historic
advice is often unnecessarily given to England is required for most works that involve
replace timber suspended floors with alterations or additions to scheduled monuments.
concrete floors. Timber suspended floors
can survive flooding and assist with drying The granting of consent to carry out works
where the water is able to soak into the to protect the building from flooding will be
ground beneath rather being retained, influenced by the impact of the proposals on the
which would be the case with a concrete architectural or historic interest of the building.
floor. If a suspended timber floor has been
damaged beyond repair by a flood, a new
suspended timber floor could be put back or
consideration could be given to use of lime
concrete, which has a greater porosity and
permeability than conventional concrete
Turn off gas, electricity and water make torch and spare batteries
sure you know how to turn off these
supplies at the mains Portable, battery-operated radio and
spare batteries
Contact telephone numbers: relatives,
insurance company, local authority, First-aid kit
expert professional advisers, builders,
recovery experts Essential medicines
Insurance documents
1
1
5
Elevation 4 View
8
8 7
Elevation 7
3 (rear face)
Section
detail 4
1
1 4
2
1
5
2
Risk side 2
5
View 2
4
Plan detail 4
5
3 Plan detail
Elevation
24
Images 23 and 24
23. Door barrier: example with interlocking tongued
and grooved multiple boards for increased height
protection (1) High channels of painted, treated timber
(or metal) fixed to reveals each side of opening (2)
Barrier: painted external quality lipped plywood or
similar boards, the top edges fitted with hardwood 1
tongues, the bottom edges grooved (3) Sealant to
edges of side channels and channels bedded in mastic 1
move vulnerable belongings outside the if floodwater rises higher than 1 metre you
property to higher ground. should allow water to enter the property to
reduce the risk of structural damage
is it safe? there may be hidden dangers contact your insurers as soon as possible
and slippery surfaces in the floodwater and establish exactly the level of cover the
insurer provides and what is included such
check that the electricity has been as temporary accommodation, and services
turned off at the mains before inspections.
standing in any floodwater
inform the insurers that you live in an old
wear a face mask, waterproof outer building and try to ensure that loss adjusters,
wear and gloves as floodwater may be surveyors and contractors with experience
contaminated. Stay out of affected areas as of old buildings will be appointed. Agree
much as possible too that you can employ an architect or
surveyor experienced with old buildings to
unplug and remove any electrical appliances provide specialist conservation advice if this
is required and that their reasonable fees
take photographs or video recordings of the will be paid under the policy.
damage caused
once the insurance company has been
make lists and notes of damaged items/ informed and has approved the proposed
areas to hand to the loss adjuster or claims work it is important that any standing water
adviser take copies for your own records is removed as soon as possible and initial
drying starts. The longer it takes to start the
open windows to reduce the humidity. drying-out process the greater the potential
damage as water soaks into the fabric of
the building. This can lead to the chance of
secondary damage through capillary action
and evaporation or spalling.
the depth that the water reaches and its damage to buildings and should not be held back,
speed of flow particularly if the buildings are in a poor state of
repair, though it is rare for the structural integrity
the course it takes of a historic building to be compromised.
the length of time it remains in the building Water damage can be divided into primary
damage and secondary damage. Primary
the type of materials used in the building damage, such as expansion or shrinkage, staining,
etc, is clearly evident. Secondary damage is the
the amount of contaminants carried by subsequent effects such as moisture travelling
the floodwater to areas that were not affected by the initial
ingress. Water vapour rising through the building
the length of time it takes to start the can cause mould growth unless it is intercepted
drying process. by ventilation or dehumidification. Hygroscopic
materials that absorb moisture will support
Shallow flooding (when the water does not rise mould growth because they maintain a high
above floor level) is unlikely to cause significant relative humidity at their surface. This can also
damage in most properties, although there may be occur on less-absorbent materials if they provide
problems with water entering cellars, basements a cool enough surface to elevate the humidity
and voids beneath suspended ground floors. sufficiently. Too much heat will make the situation
worse if vapour production exceeds vapour
Damage costs increase significantly once removal. Preventing secondary damage is referred
floodwater rises above floor level and comes to as mitigation.
into contact with internal finishes, electrical
sockets, kitchen fittings, carpets, furniture and
personal possessions. Flood depths greater than
1 metre above floor level can cause structural
Beware 26 27
Images 2528
25. Muddy water being swept out of a shop following 27. Historic buildings are vulnerable to damage after
flooding in Shrewsbury. flooding from unnecessary removal of fittings and
[photo Paul Glendell] finishes as has happened here.
26. Furnishings from a flooded church have been [photo Simon Cairns / Cotswold DC]
carefully stacked and labelled and protected prior 28. Flooding at Bewdley in 2007.
to refitting. [photo Paul Gendell]
[photo Phil Hadley /Continuity]
Grey an internal leak with some waste The loss adjuster, and any contractors appointed,
water such as that from a washing machine act on behalf of both insurer and the policy-
holder. Any disputes that arise should initially
Black water from an external source be referred to the loss adjuster and then failing
that will be contaminated to some degree agreement to the insurers.
depending on its origin.
In the case of properties that are insured, 5.1 Waiting for the water to recede
the insurer will often appoint a disaster-
recovery contractor, who will first make a Basements, common to many older buildings,
hazard and risk assessment. This assessment are high-risk areas that often fill with water.
will cover a whole range of potential risks, Coal-holes are a particularly easy way for
which will be drawn to the owners attention. floodwater to enter these areas. Before deciding
The contractor will also carry out a triage to pump water from a basement you first need
procedure: this is an evaluation of priorities to to carry out a careful assessment of local
minimise primary damage, and an assessment drainage conditions outside and around the
of the potential for secondary damage. property. If the surrounding water level is high,
pumping could increase the external pressure
Black-water contamination will almost certainly on foundation walls, which may cause fragile
result in absorbent materials such as carpets and thin-walled structures to collapse inwards.
upholstery being removed, as de-contamination Pumping before the floodwater has receded
would not be cost effective unless the item was of is pointless: as long as the groundwater table
particularly high value or of historic significance. remains higher than the basement, water will
The disaster-recovery contractor will make an continue to seep in through the walls until
inventory of items removed and those that are the groundwater level finds equilibrium.
considered beyond economic repair. This will go
to the loss adjuster for disposal approval. Many older buildings have suspended floors:
the under-floor voids need to be inspected for
The contractor will also carry out an initial standing water and acted upon in the same way
assessment of the damage and restoration work as basements. The floodwater needs to recede
involved together with the associated costs. by itself, though this process can be helped by
creating drainage holes and pumping water out
In the case of those without insurance, where appropriate.
contractors need to be appointed directly and
supervised. The British Damage Management
Association (BDMA) produces checklist guidance 5.2 Initial drying, decontamination
for this purpose Record of Flood Recovery Activity and cleaning
and Personally Appointed Contractors.
Safety check
Take photographs of the damage if you have not A health-and-safety risk assessment needs to be
already done so. carried out before decontamination and cleaning
can start.
It is important that the restoration contractor
is able to assess what is significant in an older Decontamination and cleaning
building what can and should be saved. A great Before decontamination and cleaning can take
Architects, building surveyors and structural If water rises through the trap (U-bend) of the
engineers with experience in the conservation and lowest appliance (eg sink, bath or toilet) report
repair of structurally damaged historic buildings this immediately to the local water authority.
31 32 33
34 35
36 37
Images 2937
29. An endoscope being used to investigate beneath 34. A three speed air-mover fitted with a hydrovent for
floorboards. injecting air into voids
30. Church floor being dried under polythene following [photo Darrel Sykes]
removal of pews. 35. Floorboards that have been tightly re-fixed without
[photo Phil Hadley/Continuity] sufficient drying have bowed.
31. Masonry suffering the effects of damp: a cushion of 36. The drying-out process must be carefully controlled
efflorescing salts has developed around a joint in and monitored in order to protect historic
this sandstone pier as the saturated masonry has decorations. Paintings on plaster, such as these
dried out early seventeenth-century examples in a Grade II*-
32. Humidity probes (shown behind polythene) with listed house in Bewdley are especially vulnerable to
data logging is good way of checking that drying is flood damage.
happening. 37. A dessicant dehumidifier being used with polythene
33. An estate cottage drying out naturally. sheeting to isolate a particular area.
[photo National Trust]
Schedule of preliminary works & monitoring record (at week 9) - note: part record only
Notes
Refer to drawings for positions of monitoring points. out process. Readings taken into timber are actual
percentage values. Where readings have been taken
into other materials in the measure mode then these
Monitoring readings taken with Protimeter SM generally
have been given as a wood moisture equivalent
in search mode for solid floors & walls. These readings
(abbreviated to wme).
are relative (abbreviated to rel) and are intended for
comparison purposes in order to assess the drying
Floor Oak boards on joists with mostly earth sub-floor/infill; conc sub-floor with embedded joists to S bay. FA1 (Top of joist)
Boards lifted & stacked; earth removed from between joists; sub-floor conc/completely decayed joists FA2 (Top of joist)
removed to bay. Replacement or remedial work considered/ discussed with CO. Latter agreed to
FA3 (Top of joist)
provision of limecrete floor with boards refixed. LBC applic to be made concurrent with this work
FA4 (Top of joist)
E wall Panelling - monitor drying out incl investig behind WA1 sktg
0.3m
0.5m
0.8m
depth@0.5m
endoscope
0.3m
0.5m
0.8m
depth@0.5m
endoscope
W wall Panelling - monitor drying out incl investig behind WA6 sktg
0.3m
0.5m
0.8m
depth@0.5m
endoscope
S wall Panelling - monitor drying out incl investig behind WA11 sktg
0.3m
0.5m
0.8m
depth@0.5m
endoscope
82%
No further monitoring
27% required as
19% replacement of floor
construction agreed
19%
12%WME
clear
15%WME
clear
9%WME
clear
13%WME
clear
specialist advice should be obtained if If heaters are used without adequate ventilation
asbestos-based insulation materials are the absolute humidity may actually increase,
found. potentially creating high-humidity conditions in
other previously unaffected rooms.
old houses are likely to have hidden voids
where air cannot circulate. Investigate Dehumidification
awkward spaces behind panelling, Aggressive dehumidification is best avoided
box shutters and linings to door and for old buildings. The surface of the walls can
window reveals. Check under stairs appear dry but sub-surface water can migrate
and inside cupboards and open them to the surface after a fairly short period of time.
up if necessary to ensure the free flow Dehumidification can dry lime plasters too
of air. This work may necessitate the quickly, resulting in cracking and deterioration.
employment of a skilled joiner if damage
to historic fittings is to be avoided. Both refrigerant and desiccant dehumidifiers can
be controlled by a humidistat. If these controls
wallpapers that have no historic are used properly they can provide gentle drying
significance can be removed to aid conditions. The desiccant dehumidifiers are more
the drying of plaster finishes. effective, and potentially more efficient. They are
smaller than refrigerant dehumidifiers, quieter in
Assisted drying operation and can be used via hoses to send the
Natural ventilation alone may not be sufficient drier air into voids and cavities. They can also be
to produce balanced drying conditions and it used to work on areas that have been isolated
may be necessary to assist the drying process with polythene. However, they output at lower
with the use of fans. Conditions might be absolute humidity levels and therefore need
such that natural drying will be too slow, to be carefully monitored by correctly placed
possibly giving rise to excessive mould growth humidistat controls.
and potential timber decay. Accelerated
drying requires much management time if
it is to be effective and non-damaging.
digital hygrometers
capacitance meters
drilling equipment
Karsten tube
boroscopes or endoscopes
Image 38
Flooded cottages at Tewkesbury.
[photo Nick Kirk/PA]
Significant damage can occur when inherent After winter floods, very soft saturated bricks on
salt and water (frost) crystals carried through the outside of the property should be protected
the substrate are released through inappropriate from frosts and rain by inert (ie water-resistant)
drying or very cold conditions (see next column). insulation and by putting up a ventilated shelter
a temporary lean-to, screen or tarpaulin and
Masonry allowed to dry out slowly.
As they recover from flood saturation, masonry
walls can be damaged by inherent soluble salts Masonry flooded by sea water should be rinsed
and by salts absorbed in rising damp from down several times with clean salt-free water as
groundwater. When masonry is saturated, the soon as possible after the flood has subsided and
salts dissolve but when the water evaporates, the then allowed to dry out slowly so as to minimise
salts are carried nearer to the surface, where they the effects of chloride-salt damage to soft
crystallise and can appear as a powdery white masonry.Where stone, terracotta or tile paving
residue called efflorescence. Although unsightly, laid on to bare earth appears to be suffering from
this is not usually harmful and can be brushed, rising damp and salt migration following flooding,
vacuumed or washed away. Problems arise if the rake out the mortar joints and leave them open.
salts are trapped behind a relatively impermeable These can be filled with clean dry sand to increase
coating, such as a water-repellent sealant, or an the surface area for drying and thus provide sites
oil-based or acrylic paint. for crystallisation to take place. Later, re-point the
joints with sacrificial, highly porous, lime-based
The salts crystallise within the substrate and expand, mortars to help wick the salts away from the
pushing off the surface of the brick or stone in historic paving and into the mortar. Periodically,
processes known as spalling or exfoliation. It is the mortar may become saturated with salts and
therefore important to allow historic masonry to have to be replaced. However, this will be far less
breathe effectively after flooding. damaging and more cost effective than having to
deal with damaged paving.
The removal of historic lime plaster from its
surface is rarely justified, as this should not Do not seal the paving with wax, oil or
inhibit drying its relative porosity should polyurethane varnish as sealants will encourage
Independent experts can be hired for advice on Take the opportunity to use lime-based renders
drying and treating woodwork to prevent decay. in reinstatement works, which will afford greater
They can carry out surveys to assess the potential resistance in any future flooding.
risks of fungal and other infestations and have
the tools to monitor the welfare of concealed or Metalwork
remote historic timbers over time. Aluminium, bronze, copper and brass objects,
components and fixtures will not be damaged by
Render and plaster immersion in water as long as they are allowed
The term plaster covers a wide range of wall to dry quickly. Iron and steel will oxidise and rust
and ceiling coating materials, each with its and expand when exposed to water, though they
own chemical and physical responses to water should not be harmed by a single immersion as
saturation. Older lime-based plasters may soften long as they are dried quickly.
and swell when wet, usually without collapse,
and harden again once dry. De-bonding of lime Rusting, particularly in maritime environments,
plaster can occur as the underlying laths swell can lead to serious structural problems where
and shrink when wet, causing breakage of plaster metal components such as steel sections or
nibs. De-bonded plaster can be re-anchored using reinforcements in concrete lintels are embedded
resins and screws. Lime is very porous and helps within saturated walls that do not dry quickly.
underlying fabric to breathe. Here, the exfoliation of oxidising metal sections
or the expansion of the metal causing spalling of
Modern gypsum-based plasters are water the concrete can reduce the bearing capacity of
sensitive and hygroscopic. The calcium the beam or lintel and result in cracking, if not
sulphate in the plaster is partially soluble collapse. Check the lintels: cracks, deformation or
in cold water, so they deteriorate and may oxide-staining (rust-staining) are signs of distress
need remedial treatment or replacement. and should be inspected by a structural engineer.
Modern plasterboards, which incorporate paper Similarly, ties, cramps, pipes and conduits
linings that deteriorate when wet, are fixed to the in masonry walls or floors can continue
walls by plaster dabs and may come unstuck and to oxidise and expand once rusting has
need replacing. commenced, leading ultimately to cracking
and spalling of surfaces and possibly to
If in doubt about the authenticity or importance of localised de-bonding and structural failure.
the plaster material, consult your local planning
authoritys conservation officer. Simple surface staining can be cleaned, primed
and redecorated.
Relatively impermeable modern finishes may Programmes for slow and careful drying and
have to be stripped off completely to allow the sympathetic repair will inevitably appear
substrate to dry out effectively. Historic paintwork prolonged compared with the stripping-out and
should be treated by a specialist conservator. replacement works for flooded new buildings, and
will vary according to the extent of flood damage.
Old paint may contain white lead carbonate.
Special precautions (such as the use of face masks
and gloves) must be observed when handling 5.6 Monitoring the long-term effects
lead-based paint and it is best left to qualified
painters and decorators. As the building and surrounding land dry
out, monitor the stability of the walls and
Wall paintings floors and the integrity of the mortar joints.
Do not use dehumidifiers or heaters in interiors Any cracks that appear in foundation walls
that have historic wall paintings on plaster or around openings should be investigated.
or timber. Specialist advice should be sought If they are the result of temporary hydration
from conservators. Slow substrate micro- and expansion of the underlying clay soil
drying assisted by cold-air fans, supervised by around the foundations, the cracks should
a conservator, should avoid salt crystallisation, shrink or at least cease to expand when the
paint flaking and mould growth. water content of the soil returns to normal.
39
40 41
Images 3941
39. St Michaels and All Angels Church at Tirley, 40. Flooding at Lancaster Quay.
Gloucestershire. [photo Environment Agency]
[photo PA] 41. Flooded brick cottage at Tewkesbury.
[photo PA]
6.2 Principal sources of flood advice Floodline 0345 988 1 1 8 8 24hrs a day
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and
The RIBA is the UK body for architects and the Information Association
architectural profession. www.architecture.com www.ciria.org
Association of British Insurers (no date). Responding to English Heritage 2003. Coastal Defence and the Historic
Major Floods: what to expect from your home insurer Environment. English Heritage Guidance. London:
English Heritage (product code 50756)
Self Help for Victims of Flooding Record of Flood English Heritage 2008. Climate Change and the Historic
Recovery Activity and Personally Appointed Environment. London: English Heritage (product code
5I392)
Contractors
British Standards Institute 2013. PAS 64 Environment Agency. Publishes three flood-advice
Mitigation and recovery of water damaged guides:
buildings-code of practice. London, BSI.
Preparing for a Flood: Practical Advice on What to
Cabinet Office 2008. The Pitt Review: Learning Lessons Do to Stay Safe in a Flood Property
from the 2007 Summer Floods. London: Cabinet Office
During a Flood: Practical Advice on What to Do to
Cassar, M and Hawkings C (eds) 2007. Engineering Stay Safe in a Flood
Historic Futures Research. Stakeholders Dissemination
and Scientific Research Report. London: UCL Centre for
After a Flood: Practical Advice on Recovering
Sustainable Heritage
from a Flood (available to download from
publications.environment-agency.gov.uk)
DCLG 2009. Planning Policy Statement 25: Development
and Flood Risk - Practice Guide. London: Department of Flood Repairs Forum 2006. Repairing flooded
Communities and Local Government buildings: an Insurance Industry Guide to
Investigation and Repair of Flood Damage to
Housing and Small Businesses. Watford: BRE Press
DCLG 2010. Guidance and standards for drying (available from www.brebookshop.com)
flood damaged buildings London: Department of
Communities and Local Government
Foresight. Future Flooding 2004, Flood and Coastal
Defence Project.
North West
Suites 3.3 and 3.4
Canada House
3 Chepstow Street
Manchester M1 5FW
Tel: 0161 242 1400
Email: northwest@HistoricEngland.org.uk
Please contact
guidance@HistoricEngland.org.uk
with any questions about this document.
HistoricEngland.org.uk
HEAG017
Publication date: v2.0 April 2010 English Heritage
Reissue date: v2.2 April 2015 Historic England
Design: Historic England