Building a Flood Resilient Home in North QLD: What's Involved?

Building a home in North Queensland requires careful consideration of local climate factors, including high humidity, frequent rainfall, and flooding risks. With diligent planning and investments in flood-resistant home design, homeowners can significantly minimise the risk of flood damage to their future home while potentially saving on flood insurance premiums.

Here's what homeowners of new builds need to know about flood resistant home design in North Queensland.

Flood Risks for North QLD Homes  

According to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, flooding is the most common natural disaster in Queensland. 

In cities like Cairns, high rainfall and low lying land makes flooding a risk. Homes in the Cairns area are also prone to storm surges - cyclones near the coast can raise the sea level and push waves of water further into residential areas.

Homeowners in Cairns and North QLD must take note of flood zones and storm surge risk for their homes and make preparations to protect them, whether during the initial build or through retrofit upgrades. The Cairns Regional Council provides Predictive Flood Inundation Maps and Storm Surge Zones that homeowners and builders use to identify flooding risks across various residential areas.

What is Flood Resilient House Design? 

Flood resilient home design is a construction approach that aims to minimise the potential damage caused to a property during and after a flooding event. While it is possible for flood resilient features to be incorporated as retrofit upgrades to an existing home, they are best applied to new home builds during the initial design process. This is because many flood-resistant design features involve choosing building materials and layouts may be impractical to change later on.

Flood resilient home design can:

• Minimise the risk of flood damage
• Reduce structural damage to the property
• Make cleaning and recovery efforts easier
• Provide additional protection for the contents of the house
• Lower the cost of flood insurance premiums

Aspects of Flood Resilient Home Design

There are three aspects to flood resistant home design:

1. Wet Proofing - The use of materials that allow water to flow freely, such as permeable materials or materials that dry quickly. This applied outside of the property, such as outdoor patios, fences, and yards.
2. Dry Proofing - Ensuring a proper seal of the property’s exterior to prevent or minimise water ingress. Dry proofing features cover the property's structural elements, such as walls, insulation, and kitchen cabinetry. 
3. Elevation - Raising the height of the property’s living areas and utility systems to prevent exposure to water. The foundation of the property must also be built to withstand heightened water levels.

How Flood Resilient Home Design is Applied in New Home Builds

Raised Appliances & Electrical Outlets

Electrical power points and home appliances (e.g. washing machine, hot water system) are placed higher than the building’s flood planning level.

Removing Wall Cavities

The property is designed without wall cavities and built using core-filled blockwork to prevent water from getting into the internal structure. We may recommend the use of fibre cement or other moisture-resistant materials instead of plasterboard.

Easy to Clean Surfaces

Materials like polished concrete or tiles are used for surfaces below the building’s flood planning level; these materials are resilient against water damage and make cleanup after a flood easier. 

Flush Entryways 

Doorways in the home are designed to be flush with the floor. This makes it easier for water to be swept out of the home after flooding.

Use Water-Resistant materials

Water resistant materials are used for fixtures like door handles, hinges, window frames, cabinetry and external cladding to prevent corrosion or degradation from water exposure. Kitchen cabinetry is one of the most expensive items to repair or replace after a flood.

When building a new flood resilient home in Cairns or North Queensland, it’s best to work with a local builder who knows the building codes and best practices for the region. Cougar Home is a luxury home builder in Cairns and Mackay with extensive experience in building for flood resilience without compromising on the look and feel of your dream home. Explore our home designs in Cairns or get in touch with our team to book a consultation for your new home.