5 Easy Steps to Help Flood-Proof Your House

April 22, 2025
Title image with the Roof Maxx logo and title "5 Easy Steps to Help Flood-Proof Your House" on a green transparency over an image of a flooded street.

Summary

  • Protecting your home from floods starts at the roof because it’s your first line of defense. If you have asphalt shingles, Roof Maxx can help rejuvenate your shingles so your roofing system can keep water out more effectively.
  • Sealing cracks and openings in your foundation is also important because it prevents water from taking the path of least resistance into your home. Installing sump pumps or floor and French drains can help channel water away from your home.
  • Sandbags and flood barriers are very useful in flood zones. Having them on hand so you can set them up at a moment’s notice can save you a lot of money and prevent the need for costly repairs.
  • Elevating critical home systems, like HVAC units and electrical panels, helps keep them away from flood waters. Gutters and downspouts channel water away from vulnerable areas of your home, so it’s important to keep them clean and clear.

If you live in a flood zone or an area with lots of rain, you can’t afford not to flood-proof your home. Taking preventative measures to minimize your risk for water damage, protect your belongings, and shore up the structural integrity of your home now will save you money, time, and heartache later on.

It might seem counterintuitive to start at the top, but your roof is actually your first line of defense against heavy rain and floods. A compromised roof lets water in at structural points, like your flashing and walls, long before it can seep in along the ground.

If you have an aging asphalt shingle roof, Roof Maxx can help rejuvenate your shingles so vulnerable areas like these are better protected. We’ll tell you why—and teach you five more easy and effective steps for flood-proofing your home—in this guide.

A Roof Maxx dealer applies the treatment to a customer's home.
A Roof Maxx dealer applies the treatment to a customer's home.

Keep Your Asphalt Shingles Strong and Ready with Roof Maxx

Roof Maxx can help homeowners with asphalt shingle roofs in so many ways, but it’s especially useful for homes in areas that experience heavy storms. Here’s how the treatment helps.

Affordability and Flexibility

  • Roof Maxx restores flexibility to aging shingles, which can dry out and crack over time. Re-infusing each shingle with lost oils helps your roof better withstand heavy rain and water intrusion.
  • The treatment costs up to 80% less than the cost of a new roof, making Roof Maxx an affordable option for homeowners who want to avoid costly repairs or early roof replacement.

Additional Benefits

  • Our plant-based treatment is eco-friendly and won’t harm kids, pets, or the environment—so it’s an ideal option for residential homes. 
  • Extending the life of your roof reduces waste sent to landfills and lowers emissions tied to manufacturing and replacing asphalt shingles.

Your roof might be the best place to start—but for total protection, you also need to flood-proof other key areas of your home. Read on for five more essential tasks you should take on and find out why they’re effective.

Cracks developing in a concrete foundation around a basement window.
Cracks developing in a concrete foundation around a basement window.

Seal Cracks & Openings in the Foundation

Why It’s Important

Water can seep into tiny cracks or gaps in your foundation, especially during heavy rainfall or floods. Even a small leak can eventually cause thousands of dollars in damage to the foundation and basement. By sealing any cracks and openings, you’re giving water one less way in.

How to Do It

Warning: If your house is over 50 years old or you notice large, widespread cracks in the structure, consult a structural engineer before proceeding with any repairs or renovations.

  • Work on a dry day when you aren’t expecting any rain or snow.
  • Make sure the area is as clean, dry, and free of debris as possible.
  • Use an exterior-grade latex concrete, butyl rubber, silicone, or polyurethane caulking/sealant.
  • Seal visible cracks and gaps along your foundation, basement walls, and floors.
  • Check for new cracks or areas needing reinforcement after storms or seasonally.
A sump pump in a basement well.
A sump pump in a basement well.

Install or Improve Sump Pumps & Drainage

Why It’s Important

Sump pumps constantly monitor your basement for rising water levels. They’re designed to automatically kick in and begin pumping water away in the event of a flood, indoor leak, or appliance breakdown. Other drainage options, like French drains and floor drains, can also help channel water away.

How to Do It

  • Install a sump pump and check that it’s in good working order at least once a month.
  • Add French drains outside if you have issues with water pooling in the yard during storms,
  • Add a battery backup system for better reliability during power outages and long storms.
  • Check your pumps and drains often, and remove any obstructions so water can flow out easily.
A flooded home in Florida after a hurricane.
A flooded home in Florida after a hurricane.

Use Flood Barriers & Sandbags

Why It’s Important

Barriers and sandbags are a highly cost-effective way to stop water from entering your home during a flood or heavy rain. They aren’t a replacement for other flood-proofing methods because they’re only effective to about 15 inches above the ground, but that’s still significant—especially in a hurricane. 

How to Do It

  • If you decide to go with sandbags, don’t wait for a crisis. Buy nylon urethane-coated sandbags and store them somewhere dry so you have them on hand at all times.
  • When it’s go time, lay tarp down against your foundation and affix it at a point several feet above the wall. It should sit under your sandbags and against the wall/foundation.
  • Lay each sandbag down in an alternating brick pattern around doors, window wells, and all other entry points against your home.
  • If you live in a flood zone or an area where you need to hurricane-proof your home, consider investing in flood barriers instead. They’re much faster, easier, and lighter to set up.
Dual heat pump HVAC systems elevated off the ground in case of a flood.
Dual heat pump HVAC systems elevated off the ground in case of a flood.

Elevate Critical Home Systems

Why It’s Important

Floodwaters can severely damage HVAC units, electrical panels, water heaters, and other electrical components—or completely destroy them. In flood-prone areas, elevating them at least one to two feet off the ground can help protect your home and avoid costly replacements.

How to Do It

  • It’s a lot easier to raise HVAC units and other large devices during the original installation, so make it a standard for any new systems going forward.
  • For existing equipment, work with a licensed contractor to elevate everything safely and in compliance with local codes.
  • Use platforms to lift washers, dryers, and water heaters off the ground or install them on the second level instead (where possible).
  • If you live in a flood zone, make sure your electrical panel is at least 1 foot above your local base flood elevation (BFE). Otherwise, the bottom edge should be no lower than 4 feet above your floor.
A downspout on a home in the US.
A downspout on a home in the US.

Keep Gutters & Downspouts Clear

Why It’s Important

Gutters and downspouts play an important role in the structural integrity of your home because they direct water away from vulnerable areas, like your flashing, soffits, walls, and foundation. They need to be the right size and shape for your home first and foremost, but they can’t and won’t work effectively if they’re clogged with ice dams, leaves, or debris.

How to Do It

  • Clean your gutters at least twice a year and/or after every major storm.
  • Make sure that all downspouts direct water at least a few feet away from your foundation.
  • If you don’t have downspouts installed, or they break, reinstall new ones right away.
  • For extra protection, install gutter guards—they’ll stop debris from building up so quickly.
A Roof Maxx dealer stands smiling in front of a Roof Maxx vehicle.
A Roof Maxx dealer stands smiling in front of a Roof Maxx vehicle.

Make Roof Maxx a Part of Your Flood-Proofing Strategy

Scheduling a Roof Maxx treatment for your aging asphalt shingle roof can help shore up the integrity of your roofing system. Add in our optional roof tune-up package and your roof will be even better equipped to handle heavy rain and storms without letting water in.

Pair Roof Maxx with easy flood-proofing steps like sealing cracks, installing sump pumps, using flood barriers, elevating critical systems, and keeping your gutters clear for the best protection from floods. Find a dealer in your area now to get a free, no-obligation quote!

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Picture of Georgios Karakitsios
Georgios Karakitsios
"George Karakitsios owns the website and marketing technology behind Roof Maxx. He has spent more than 12 years building web experiences for homeowners and Roof Maxx customers"
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