Could The Recent Floods Prompt A Surge In Storm-Proof Windows And Doors?

The flooding before, during and after the Christmas period has been heart breaking to watch on the TV, and vastly more devastating for those it has affected in nearly all parts of the UK. Scotland has been the latest area to suffer from endless days of rainfall, with many towns and villages suffering from flooding.

There is a strong argument that the Government has made a fundamental error in reducing the flood budget by so much over recent years, especially as the cost of all this damage is now way above what the original budget would have been in the first place. But perhaps that’s a post for another day.

As the water recedes and people start to clear up and think about putting their homes back to their normal states, no doubt home owners and businesses owners will look to the market to see what products are out there, within the window and door market, that could help try and prevent a similar situation from happening again.

Flood proof windows and doors

We have windows and doors certified to be storm proof, that is nothing new, and they do a sterling job. But how about flood proof? It’s OK withstanding some driving rain and strong gales, but what about when the river bursts it’s banks and three feet of water comes rushing up to your door?

Google “flood proof doors” and there are some results that show up, but you get the impression that there really isn’t a full on established market for flood proof products. There is even less of one for flood proof windows. However, after the battering our towns and cities have had not only over the past few weeks, but years, you have to now wonder if there really should be a push from the whole of the UK window and door market to develop this part of the sector further.

We’re now getting once in a 100 year floods nearly every year now, and I think we all fully expect this to be the new norm. The weather is only becoming more extreme season by season, and we have to protect and adapt our homes to the new climate we’re living in. That means windows and doors have to be able to withstand these new pressure that some properties were never meant to withstand in the first place.

A chance for the door giants

When you look at the companies making these flood proof doors, there are non of the big names you’re used to seeing when it comes to the residential door market overall. And that’s strange.

Companies are always looking for new opportunities, yet this one appears to continue to go unanswered. But I don’t think it should be, for two reasons. Firstly and most importantly, more and more people are becoming exposed to flooding. River levels are breaking all sorts of records and putting people and homes in danger where they were never previously. Ethics and morals alone should push our industry into stepping up the flood proof door game. Secondly, there is an attractive diversification an revenue stream attached to this. Lots of homes need flood proof doors, yet when you see the news reports and video footage, almost no one has a flood proof door. Surely there lies and opportunity to improve and defend homes, as well as help grow a company?

There is a clear and present opportunity here that is ripe for the taking. If the biggest and best in our industry can perfect how to make flood proof doors on mass, not only can a new business opportunity be created, but tens of thousands of homes could be defended against future flooding events, which will mean a great deal more than just a door.

Update – 9:30am 8/1/16:

It turns out there are few established businesses that do in fact provide flood proof doors. They’re just not that well advertised. A Google search for example didn’t bring up the ones Bowater do.

For me, they need to be pushed harder and advertised better. Flooding in the UK is an all year round event. It doesn’t matter if it’s Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter, flooding is an ever present threat here due to the regular rainfall we get.

Flood proof doors are just part of the solution though. They need to form part of a wider plan to stop water ingress from all parts of a home. That includes from underneath, through the walls and any other gap water could find it’s way in. It’s not easy, but there are things we can do to help reduce the risk of homes being flooded, for example stopping building on flood plains would be a good start.