Floodwater can cause devastating conditions to your property. If you are looking for durable water barrier options to prevent flood damage, sandbags are the right choice. Sandbags are low-cost flood defence solutions. Moreover, you can set up your sandbag walls within a short period.
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How do sandbags work?
The structure of a sandbag does not ensure a watertight seal. However, when you construct and fill the sandbag properly, it works as a barrier to divert the flood water away from your buildings.
Porosity is one of the qualities of sand, and this attribute indicates the ability of the substance to allow the flow of water, air, and light. So, higher porosity means more water passes through it. But, as sand has low porosity and a coarser texture, it cannot retain water. Floodwaters that contain clay and silt flow into sandbags. As the sand catches the particles, they fill the gaps to make sand a strong barrier to water. The floodwater cannot wash the sandbags away.
Although it is common to use untied sandbags, tied ones are used for particular situations when you need stockpiling. It is easier to stockpile and manage the tied sandbags. You can fill the sandbags at the site to avoid wasting time. You may also bring the pre-filled bags to the site.
Protect your property with sandbags:
If your premises are already flooded, sandbags will not be the solution. So, you should take steps beforehand to avoid this situation. Place the sandbags at the doorways and other entry points like cable entry points and air bricks. You need 6 or more sandbags to prevent water at a depth of about 20 cm. Make sure that every sandbag contains about 15 kg of sand.
Know more about sandbags:
Traditionally, burlap was a commonly chosen material for sandbags. However, you can find bags made from polypropylene plastic. These commercial plastic sandbags store sand for several years, although they are non-biodegradable. So, you should dispose of the bags when they are damaged. Never use garbage bags as your sandbags because they are very slick and cannot be stacked. The width of your bags should range from 14’’ to 18’’, while the depth needs to be 30’’ to 36’’
Building a wall with sandbags:
Remove the debris from the site where you like to construct the sandbag wall. If the ground is uneven, sandbags cannot settle properly. Besides, the sandbags need to be parallel to the way to which water flows. Fold the open end of your sandbag.
Every row of the bags should be flat to prevent gaps. They will develop a tight seal and create the wall structure. Build a pyramid-shaped wall if there are 4 or more rows. You may use plastic sheets to seal the wall and provide the ultimate protection.
So, you can create a strong barrier to water by placing sandbags properly. Fill the bags with sand or buy pre-filled sandbags. Building a sandbag involves at least 2 persons. Properly placed sandbags effectively protect your property from flood damage.
