After several years of searching, we have finally found our dream plot. The problem is that it is located just behind a levee on the Danube River (disregarding the old buildings on it, but that’s another story :p). From the start, we ruled out building a basement because the groundwater is also not far below.
However, if we still decide to go ahead with it, how can the house be best protected against groundwater and flooding, in case the levee fails? Although it has never happened in its 30 years of existence, you never know.
How is a ground floor and slab-on-grade (concrete slab) constructed in such conditions? Are there windows or doors that are more resistant to water than standard ones? We are planning to have the heating and electrical systems on the first floor. Which type of heating system is especially suitable for that? I would appreciate lots of tips and tricks 😀
However, if we still decide to go ahead with it, how can the house be best protected against groundwater and flooding, in case the levee fails? Although it has never happened in its 30 years of existence, you never know.
How is a ground floor and slab-on-grade (concrete slab) constructed in such conditions? Are there windows or doors that are more resistant to water than standard ones? We are planning to have the heating and electrical systems on the first floor. Which type of heating system is especially suitable for that? I would appreciate lots of tips and tricks 😀
So, buying a plot of land in the city where I currently live and was born, and not building in an area that could potentially flood in case of a dam failure, is almost impossible....
Either you go underground or build directly into the hillside... which means a steep plot. And for the most part, you don’t have to worry about terracing in that case...
The next option would be close to a road similar to a federal highway....
So, the choices are very limited. Both the hillside (due to costs and the steepness of the terrain, not suitable for our needs) and next to a busy main road (because of dog, child, and noise disturbances without any noise barrier) are not options we can consider.
Does anyone have any practical suggestions for securing a house?
Either you go underground or build directly into the hillside... which means a steep plot. And for the most part, you don’t have to worry about terracing in that case...
The next option would be close to a road similar to a federal highway....
So, the choices are very limited. Both the hillside (due to costs and the steepness of the terrain, not suitable for our needs) and next to a busy main road (because of dog, child, and noise disturbances without any noise barrier) are not options we can consider.
Does anyone have any practical suggestions for securing a house?
Well, if it was so severe that water even entered the upper floor...
there is truly a danger to life if such a dam breaks.
How high is the dam? If it is higher than the edge of the upper floor window, I would not build there!
The dam won’t break if only 60% of its height is reached, but only if it is overtopped, meaning it is too low to contain the water volumes.
there is truly a danger to life if such a dam breaks.
How high is the dam? If it is higher than the edge of the upper floor window, I would not build there!
The dam won’t break if only 60% of its height is reached, but only if it is overtopped, meaning it is too low to contain the water volumes.
We can still look over it. There is currently no wall obstructing our view.
After considering your concerns, I’ve also looked more closely into the neighbors’ experiences, and it seems my initial conversation didn’t go well. It turns out that basic insurance including flood damage is possible, since the risk of flooding is very low 😕 This seems reasonable given that we are about 100m (330 feet) behind the levee, but if insurance companies see it that way... Groundwater has come to the surface only three times at different spots (though strangely at higher elevations), but only on the street and without any damage to houses. The last time was during the “100-year flood” in 1999. That was the highest level recorded.
As for the exact height of the levee, I estimate about 4m (13 feet) from our side at the highest point, but on the river side it slopes down somewhat, maybe around 5–6m (16–20 feet). However, the plot is not that low since the ground rises slightly right after, then remains fairly level.
When I say “flooded,” I mean at least water reaching the door threshold, with deeper flooding depending on water levels. Judging by the condition of the old house slated for demolition (which existed before the levee was built), the typical flood depth was around 40cm (16 inches). The door entrance was at ground level.
Maybe this helps a bit for planning further construction measures? Is it possible to build a house “elevated”? Not on stilts exactly, but on a kind of thickened foundation slab?
After considering your concerns, I’ve also looked more closely into the neighbors’ experiences, and it seems my initial conversation didn’t go well. It turns out that basic insurance including flood damage is possible, since the risk of flooding is very low 😕 This seems reasonable given that we are about 100m (330 feet) behind the levee, but if insurance companies see it that way... Groundwater has come to the surface only three times at different spots (though strangely at higher elevations), but only on the street and without any damage to houses. The last time was during the “100-year flood” in 1999. That was the highest level recorded.
As for the exact height of the levee, I estimate about 4m (13 feet) from our side at the highest point, but on the river side it slopes down somewhat, maybe around 5–6m (16–20 feet). However, the plot is not that low since the ground rises slightly right after, then remains fairly level.
When I say “flooded,” I mean at least water reaching the door threshold, with deeper flooding depending on water levels. Judging by the condition of the old house slated for demolition (which existed before the levee was built), the typical flood depth was around 40cm (16 inches). The door entrance was at ground level.
Maybe this helps a bit for planning further construction measures? Is it possible to build a house “elevated”? Not on stilts exactly, but on a kind of thickened foundation slab?
Perios schrieb:
Is it possible to build a house "elevated"? Not directly on stilts, but on some type of thickened foundation slab?It has already been rejected.
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