• Skip to content
  • Skip to site navigation
  • Skip to footer
  • Find a store
  • Quick order
  • Customer support
  • Ideas & Advice
  • Register
  • Sign in
B&Q - Home B&Q Customer Services Team - 0333 014 3357
  • 0 items in your basket Basket total £0.00
    Your mini basket
    View Basket Checkout
  • Outdoor & Garden
    Garden
    • Paving & walling
    • Decking
    • Stone, gravel & chippings
    • Watering, hoses & ponds
    • Outdoor lights
    • Turf & artificial grass
    • Plants, seeds & bulbs
    • Lawn & plant care
    • Hand tools & equipment
    • Garden clearance
    Garden furniture
    • Sofas
    • Tables
    • Chairs
    • Garden furniture sets
    • Barbecues
    • Parasols
    • Gazebos
    • Garden heating
    • Hot tubs & saunas
    • Garden play
    Garden power tools
    • Lawnmowers
    • Pressure washers
    • Hedge trimmers
    • Chainsaws
    • Grass trimmers
    • Garden shredders
    • Scarifiers & tillers
    • Leaf blowers & vacs
    • Garden power accessories
    Garden buildings
    • Sheds
    • Log cabins
    • Summerhouses
    • Playhouses
    • Garden storage
    • Greenhouses
    • Arches & arbours
    • Garage storage
    Fencing
    • Fence panels
    • Fence paint
    • Fence posts
    • Trellis & screening
    • Garden gates
    • Gate furniture
    • Gravel boards
    • Feather edge fence boards
    • Garden mesh & netting
    • Fence post support
  • Kitchen & Bathroom
    Kitchen
    • Fitted kitchens
    • Kitchen doors
    • Cabinets
    • Sinks
    • Taps
    • Appliances
    • Kitchen paint
    • Storage & accessories
    • Bar stools
    • Kitchen bins
    • Book kitchen appointment
    • Kitchen clearance
    Kitchen worktops
    • Laminate worktops
    • Solid wood worktops
    • Earthstone worktops
    • Breakfast bar worktops
    • Bespoke worktops
    • Splashbacks
    • Upstands
    • Edging strip
    • End caps & joints
    • Worktop accessories
    Bathrooms
    • Bathroom suites
    • Furniture & cabinets
    • Baths
    • Bath panels
    • Toilets
    • Toilet seats
    • Basins
    • Taps
    • Accessories
    • Bathroom wall panels
    Showering
    • Showers
    • Enclosures & doors
    • Trays
    • Screens
    • Shower heads
    • Shower kits
    • Shower hoses
    • Riser rails
    • Curtain rails & rods
    • Shower curtains
    • Wet rooms
  • Home & Bedroom
    Home furnishings
    • Curtains & blinds
    • Curtain poles
    • Rugs & mats
    • Mirrors
    • Cushions
    • Bedding
    • Throws & blankets
    • Wall art & picture frames
    • Home accessories
    • Kids décor
    • Home clearance
    Bedroom furniture
    • Bedroom furniture ranges
    • Sliding wardrobe doors
    • Bedroom furniture sets
    • Create your own furniture
    • Wardrobes
    • Chest of drawers
    • Bedside tables
    • Beds & mattresses
    • Desks
    • Children's furniture
    • Storage solutions
    Storage & shelving
    • Storage boxes
    • Wall shelves & brackets
    • Storage cubes
    • Garage shelving & storage
    • Shelving systems
    • Storage trunks
    • Storage cabinets
    • Storage drawer units
    • Storage crates
    • Storage baskets
    • Clothes & shoe storage
    • Packaging
    Cleaning & laundry
    • Laundry airers
    • Cleaning products
    • Window & glass cleaning
    • Bins & bin liners
    • Vacuums & carpet cleaners
    • Brushes, brooms & mops
    • Laundry & ironing
    • Cloths & dusters
    • Sponges & scourers
    • Tissues & kitchen rolls
  • Building & Hardware
    Building Supplies
    • Aggregates & sand
    • Bricks & blocks
    • Concrete & cement
    • Additives & chemicals
    • Insulation & damp
    • Plasterboard
    • Plastering supplies
    • Coving
    • Roofing supplies
    • Guttering & drainage
    • Builder's metalwork
    • Sealants
    Timber & sheet materials
    • Constructional timber
    • Sheet materials
    • Finishing timber
    • Furniture board
    • Decorative mouldings
    • Skirting board
    • Architrave
    • Timber cladding
    • Loft boards
    • Scaffold boards
    • Stairs & stair parts
    Hardware
    • Screws
    • Handles & knobs
    • Hinges
    • Bolts, nuts & washers
    • Hooks & hangers
    • Brackets
    • Locks & padlocks
    • Furniture hardware
    • House numbers & plaques
    • Fixings & plugs
    • Nails
    • Ropes, bungees & chains
    Doors & Windows
    • Internal doors
    • External doors
    • Garage doors
    • Windows
    • Made to measure
    • Door locks & latches
    • Door frames & fixtures
    • Porches
    • Loft door & hatches
    • Door clearance
  • Painting & Decorating
    Paint & wood treatments
    • Interior emulsion
    • Interior woodcare
    • Masonry paint
    • Exterior woodcare
    • Shed & fence paint
    • Garden furniture paint & treatment
    • Spray paint
    • Decking stains & oils
    • Metal paint
    • Specialist paint
    • Primer & undercoat
    • Decorating clearance
    Decorating tools & supplies
    • Paint brushes & sprayers
    • Paint rollers & tools
    • Wallpaper tools
    • Protective clothing, sheets & tools
    • Fillers, putty & caulk
    • Paint removers & cleaning
    • Sealants
    • Tapes
    • Sanding & abrasives
    • Glue & adhesives
    Wallpaper & wall coverings
    • Wallpaper
    • Lining paper
    • Murals
    • Stickers
    • Wallpaper borders
    • Self adhesive wallpaper
    • Sticky back plastic
  • Tools & Equipment
    Power tools
    • Drills
    • Saws
    • Sanders
    • Angle grinders
    • Power tool accessories
    • Kits & twinpacks
    • Screwdrivers
    • Nail guns
    • Routers
    • Planers
    • Multi tools & hobby tools
    • Impact drivers & wrenches
    Hand tools
    • Sawing
    • Spanners & wrenches
    • Hammers & demolition
    • Tool kits
    • Screwdrivers & keys
    • Levels & measuring
    • Trowels, hawks & floats
    • Knives & blades
    • Planes, chisels & files
    • Vices & clamps
    • Pliers & cutters
    • Blow torches & soldering
    Equipment
    • Tool storage
    • Ladders & steps
    • Safety & workwear
    • Site equipment
    • Vacuums & cleaners
    • Car care & maintenance
    • Torches & work lights
    • Tarpaulin, sheets & sacks
    • Garden power tools
    • Garden hand tools
  • Lighting & Electrical
    Lighting
    • Indoor lights
    • Outdoor lights
    • Ceiling lights
    • Outdoor wall lights
    • Indoor wall lights
    • Floor lamps
    • Light bulbs
    • Lamp shades
    • Spotlights & downlights
    • Light fixtures & fittings
    • Light switches & dimmers
    Electrical
    • Cable
    • Cable management
    • Consumer units
    • Mounting boxes
    • Junction & cable connectors
    • Electrical tools & supplies
    • Cable reels & extension leads
    • Plugs
    • Fuses
    • RCD plugs
    Home electrical
    • Switches & sockets
    • Outdoor switches & sockets
    • Timers & controllers
    • TV brackets
    • TV aerials & accessories
    • Door bells
    • Data networking
    • Telephones & accessories
    • Mobile & tablet accessories
    • Batteries & chargers
    Safety & security
    • CCTV & surveillance
    • Burglar alarms
    • Fire, heat & co alarms
    • Safes
    • Key safes & cash boxes
    • Security lighting
    • Door locks & latches
    • Cable & bike locks
    • Childrens' safety
    • Smoke alarms
    • Carbon monoxide alarms
    • Fire extinguishers
    Smart home
    • Voice assistants
    • Smart lighting
    • Smart alarms
    • Smart cameras
    • Smart heating
    • Smart door locks
    • Smart smoke alarms
    • Smart door bells
    • Smart plugs
  • Tiling & Flooring
    Flooring
    • Laminate
    • Luxury vinyl click
    • Sheet vinyl
    • Vinyl tiles
    • Solid wood
    • Engineered wood
    • Vinyl planks
    • Carpet tiles
    • Flooring samples
    • All flooring
    Tiling
    • Wall tiles
    • Floor tiles
    • Mosaic & border tiles
    • Wall & floor tiles
    • Bathroom tiles
    • Kitchen tiles
    • Decking tiles
    • Tile ranges
    • Tile samples
    • All tiles
    Accessories
    • Underlay
    • Scotias & floor trims
    • Thresholds & reducers
    • Skirting & architrave
    • Underfloor heating
    • Tiling trims
    • Grout
    • Tiling adhesive
    • Sealant
    • Tile paint
    • Floor & tile cleaner
    Tools
    • Tile cutters
    • Power saws
    • Drills
    • Hand saws
    • Paddle mixers
    • Levels & measuring
    • Mallets
    • Grout spreaders
  • Heating & Plumbing
    Radiators
    • Central heating radiators
    • Towel radiators
    • Column radiators
    • Designer radiators
    • Electric radiators
    • Oil filled radiators
    • Vertical radiators
    • Cast iron radiators
    • Mirror radiators
    • Heating elements
    • Radiator valves
    • Radiator covers
    Fires, stoves & electric heating
    • Electric fires
    • Gas fires
    • All fires
    • Fireplace surrounds
    • Fireplace suites
    • Electric heating
    • Stoves
    • Companion sets
    • Logs & firewood
    • Coal buckets & baskets
    • Fireplace maintenance
    Plumbing
    • Bathroom fittings
    • Pipe fittings
    • Pipe
    • Wastes & traps
    • Toilet fittings
    • Valves & stopcocks
    • Flexible connectors
    • Elbows
    • Pipe insulation
    • Plumbing tools
    • Shower pumps
    • Cold water tanks
    Central heating
    • Boilers, flues & parts
    • Central heating controls
    • Underfloor heating
    • Hot water cylinders
    • Pipe insulation
    • Pumps
    • Water heaters
    • Treatments
    Air treatment
    • Air conditioners
    • Cooling fans
    • Dehumidifiers
    • Extractor fans
    • Ceiling fans
    • Vents & grills
    • Ducting
  • Christmas
    Christmas
    • Decorations
    • Wreaths & garlands
    • Collections
    • Stockings & sacks
    • Fun
    Christmas trees
    • Artificial trees
    • Real trees
    • Pre-lit trees
    • Classic trees
    • Pre-decorated trees
    • Coloured trees
    Christmas lights
    • Outdoor lights
    • Indoor lights
    • String lights
    • Silhouette lights
  • Home
  • Here to help whatever the weather
  • Repair after severe wet weather or flooding
  • Printthis page

Repair after severe wet weather or flooding

Current Promotions

We're here to help

after severe wet weather or flooding

We're here to help

after severe wet weather or flooding

Current Promotions

  • Dirty water pumps

    Dirty water pumps

    Shop now

  • Cleaning up

    Cleaning up

    Helpful recovery steps to get you back on your feet

    Read more

  • Dealing with rain and flooding

    Dealing with rain and flooding

    Read more

  • Rubble Sacks

    Rubble Sacks

    Shop now

  • Mops & buckets

    Mops & buckets

    Shop now

  • Vacuum, steam & carpet cleaners

    Vacuum, steam & carpet cleaners

    Shop now

  • Drying out

    Drying out

    Steps to dry out your home and make it liveable again

    Read more

  • Portable heaters

    Portable
    heaters

    Shop now

  • Dehumidifiers

    Dehumidifiers

    Shop now

  • How to prevent further damage to your home

    How to prevent further damage to your home

    Read more

Cleaning up

If you are unlucky enough to be the victim of flooding, you will need to work hard to get your home back to habitable condition.

Before you start cleaning up, take photos of the damage and mark the highest level of the floodwater on your wall. This will help when you make your insurance claim.

Safety first:

After flood damage it is very important that you get the electrical and gas systems checked by a registered professional before you attempt to use them again.

Even if they appear to work, they may have been damaged by water or mud, and could be dangerous.

Step 1 - Draining the water

Once the floodwater has subsided start clearing standing water as quickly as possible. A water pump is essential for this, and you may need a portable generator if there is no mains electricity supply.

If there is a mains supply available, remember to use an RCD adaptor if using an electric pump.

Only pump out flood water when flood levels outside your property are lower than inside. This reduces the risk of structural damage. It's a good idea to contact a structural engineer before pumping very deep water from basements.

A good quality pump should last around 10 years, depending on how often it is used and the acidity and dirtiness of the water. If you live in an area prone to flooding it's a good idea to regularly check and test your pump.

Shop water pumps

Research generators to buy in store

Step 2 - Removing wet furnishings

Remove anything that is wet from the house. Take furniture, rugs, bedding and clothing outside to dry as soon as possible.

This includes any flood protection equipment you have used; remove this as quickly as possible to help speed up the drying out process.

A builder's rubble bag or large bucket will be useful when removing wet furnishings quickly.

If mould and mildew have already developed on furnishings, brush them off while outdoors to prevent scattering spores in the house.

Shop rubble sacks

Shop buckets & tubs

Step 3 - Carpet cleaning

Clean and dry carpets and rugs as quickly as possible.

If the carpet has been soaked for more than 24 hours, replace it. If the carpet has been wet for less than 24 hours, you can clean it or hire professional cleaners to help you.

If you experienced only mild flooding, it is worth investing in a wet & dry vacuum cleaner which is able to remove both clean and dirty water from your carpet.

However, for ground floor room, a wet & dry vacuum will not be able to remove the slit & sludge carried in by outside flood water.

If sewage contaminated floodwater covered your carpeting, discarding the carpet is best for health & safety reasons.

If you are determined to salvage carpeting soaked with contaminated water, it's best to consult a professional cleaning company that services carpets at its own cleaning and drying facilities.

A wall-to-wall carpet soaked by clean rainwater can be salvaged. Have it professionally cleaned or clean it using the directions below.

To clean:

  • Remove any smaller carpets or rugs and drape outdoors over a washing line (if you have one) and hose them down
  • Work a disinfecting carpet cleaner into particularly soiled spots with a broom
  • To discourage mildew, odours and mould, rinse carpets with a solution of 2 tablespoons bleach, 4.5 litres of water (do not use this solution on wool or nylon carpets)
  • Make sure the carpet or rug is dried thoroughly before it is brought back inside the house

Shop carpet cleaners

Step 4 - Cleaning up rooms

Floodwater is usually dirty and can contain sewage, chemicals and other contaminants.

Don't forget to invest in protective waterproof clothing before you start cleaning.

Shop protective clothing
Infants, pregnant women and people with health problems should avoid the flooded area until the clean-up is complete.

Tackle one room at a time.

Shovel out as much mud as possible, and then use a garden sprayer or hose to wash away mud from hard surfaces. It might be a good idea to invest in a pressure washer to ensure stubborn, contaminated mud is fully removed.

Shop pressure washers

Clean and disinfect every surface.

Scrub surfaces with hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner. Disinfect surfaces whilst they are still damp to stop mould and mildew forming, and to eliminate smells.

It is especially important that you wear your protective clothing, especially gloves, whilst doing this.

Cleaning up living rooms:

  • Upholstered furniture soaks up contaminants from floodwaters and should be cleaned only by a professional
  • Water damaged wood veneered furniture is usually not worth the cost and effort of repair. Solid wood furniture can usually be restored, unless damage is severe
  • Mattresses should be thrown away
  • Toys and stuffed animals may have to be thrown away if they have been contaminated by flood waters
  • There's a danger of electric shocks when dealing with electric appliances, such as TV sets and radios. Make sure you check the labels on the back of any devices
  • Professional cleaning is recommended for electronics such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, as well as certain TV systems
  • Make sure the carpet or rug is dried thoroughly before replacing the carpet

Drying out

Before you can move back into your home and start redecorating, your home will need to dry out completely.

Drying out may take several weeks, or even months, depending on the severity of the flooding and the materials your home is made from.

Thorough drying can be done in 2 stages:

1. Drying - Removing water into the atmosphere.

Speed up the process by heating the house, and open the windows for ventilation.

Open cupboard and cabinet doors, and remove any drawers to allow further air circulation. An electric heater can help the drying process, but be sure to check the electricity supply is safe before you start using any electrical machinery.

Shop portable heaters

2. De-humidifying - after the initial drying process, invest in a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in your home.

Dehumidifiers are designed to reduce the amount of moisture in the room.

They do this by drawing excess moisture from the air - helping to combat condensation, mould and damp on the wall, as well as peeling paint & wallpaper.

To get the best from a dehumidifier, it's a good idea to vacuum beforehand - so you're not spreading around irritating dust particles or clogging up the air filter (if your dehumidifier has one).

Set the dehumidifier away from walls, furniture and curtains and empty the collected water out of the dehumidifier after every use, especially before moving it to another room.

Shop dehumidifiers

Shop vacuum cleaners

Redecorating should be left for at least three months after repairs have finished.

Painting or papering too soon may result in mould, blistering and peeling. When repainting emulsion, staining may occur but this can be avoided by using an oil-based or stain-block paint before final painting.

Ceilings & walls

Low permeability wall coatings, like vinyl wallpaper, gloss paint and tiling, will slow down drying of masonry partitions and could cause rotting in timber stud partitions. Remove them from at least one side of internal walls to speed up the drying process.

Plaster and panelling can often be saved, but air must be circulated in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills.

Remove the skirting boards and cut or drill holes through the plasterboard or dry-lining to drain out trapped water and to aid drying out.

If the plasterboard or dry-lining are beginning to distort remove up to at least the highest water mark, let the timber studs dry out and then replace.

Remove any insulation that has become wet as it will retain water and slow the drying out process. It may need to be replaced as it tends to reduce in thickness and effectiveness.

Wear protective equipment (e.g. clothing, gloves, goggles and a face mask) when removing fibreglass insulation as it is an irritant.

Cavity wall insulation can be damaged by flooding. If you think that this is the case in your home, seek expert advice - you may have to have the insulation replaced by specialist contractors.

Shop insulation

Shop protective clothing

Flooring

Flooring and floor tiles may need to be removed to allow thorough drying.

Wooden floors should be dried gradually. Sudden drying could cause cracking and/or splitting. Hardwood floor boards should be removed to prevent buckling; remove a board every few feet to remove buckling caused by swelling.

Clean and dry wood thoroughly before attempting repairs.

If carpet can't be removed and cleaned, dry as quickly as possible using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner and dehumidifier.

Use a fan to circulate the air above the carpet and, if possible, lift the carpet to ventilate with fans underneath.

Shop dehumidifiers

Shop flooring

Prepare for the future

If you live in an area prone to flooding, you could consider following the advice below to help prevent further damage to your home:

  • Using hard wearing floor tiles instead carpet and laminate wood flooring.
  • Electrical sockets could be raised to a height of at least 1.5m in ground level rooms to prevent further damage.
  • Using lime plaster on walls instead of gypsum plaster.

Section navigation

  • Kitchen
  • Bathrooms
  • Home & Furnishing
  • Bedroom
  • Building Supplies
  • Doors & Windows
  • Nails, Screws & Hardware
  • Painting & Decorating
  • Tools & Equipment
  • Lighting
  • Electrical & Security
  • Flooring & Tiling
  • Heating, Plumbing & Cooling
  • Outdoor & Garden
  • Clearance
  • Pick up in-storeClick & Collect
  • Home deliveryFree on orders over £50
  • 45 day returns policyon all items
Back to top

Footer links

Social links

Follow us:
Follow us on Pintrest
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on Youtube
  • Business

    • B&Q Corporate Homepage
    • Careers . This link opens in a new window
    • Media Centre . This link opens in a new window
    • One Planet Home
    • Modern Slavery Act . This link opens in a new window
    • Business Services
    • Affiliate program
    • Carrier bags
    • B&Q Ireland . This link opens in a new window
    • Black Friday at B&Q
  • Services

    • B&Q Club
    • B&Q Finance
    • B&Q Gift Cards
    • Planning appointment
    • Bathroom planning tool
    • B&Q van hire
    • B&Q Bulk Delivery
  • Products

    • Ratings & Reviews
    • Shop by brand
    • B&Q apps
    • Product Information
    • Product recalls & safety notices
    • Health & safety data sheets
  • Help & Support

    • Ideas & Advice
    • Customer support
    • Home delivery
    • Click + Collect
    • Returns & refunds
    • Brochures
    • Store finder
  • Partner Sites

    • AnyJunk rubbish removal
    • California Shutters
    • Spacepro Made to Measure Wardrobes
    • TradePoint . This link opens in a new window
  • © B&Q
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.