Bowley’s Quarters, a neighborhood just east of Baltimore, Maryland. Builders, code officials, surveyors, and insurance agents should pay attention. All too often, it seems the requirements for floodplain construction are getting ignored, and homeowners are bearing the terrible burden when they suffer this kind of damage. Constructing code-compliant homes reduces damage, but exceeding the minimum requirements reduces damage even more. And at least one Maryland homeowner knows that it is worth every penny to find products and techniques that resist damage and allow rapid recovery.

Built about 10 years ago, the house sits only 100 feet from the shoreline and the view is just breathtaking. She knew the home was built to meet floodplain requirements and she knew she needed to build the addition properly, as well. Her research of the regulations indicated that a non-substantial improvement (less than 50% of market value of the building) needed to have certain characteristics to meet code: (1) materials below the base flood elevation had to be water resistant; (2) elevated utilities and electric outlets, and (3) foundation flood vents for structural protection.

The owners took this requirement seriously and required the builder to make sure that framing studs and sheathing were treated for use in wet locations. In both the older part of the house and the new enclosure, non-absorbent solid foam insulation was installed. Old drywall was removed and the entire enclosure was finished with plastic trim and wainscoting up to about 36″ above the floor. These finish materials, installed with screws, allow the owner to remove, wash and sanitize, and reinstall with little interruption after a flood event.

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