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How to Protect your French home against Water, Wind, Heat and Fire damage: including reminders for buyers!

By David Hennessey

French weather is subject to change and sometimes the changes can be really powerful like the unexpected storms in the Alpes Maritimes October 2015. Media link with images

Here are some ways to protect your French property against Water, Wind, Heat and Fire damage.

A
Prepare your French property against Water
1
Make sure your French property’s roof has an annual check up just like you. You don’t want to wait till you have a rainstorm to find out your roof has a leak. You may be away when the storm happens and you will come home to a disaster. Small cracks in roof tiles can lead to big problems. As a buyer make sure you have the roof inspected before you make an offer to buy.

2
Make sure the drainage system in your home and outside your property is in good working order. Many older French buildings and homes may not have a drainage system that can handle today’s heavy rains. When you have a roofer check your roof each year ask a plumber as well to help check none of your drainage is blocked and that none of it needs to be replaced. As a buyer make sure you have the plumbing and drainage inspected before making an offer to buy.

3
Confirm with the local authorities that your property is connected to the local drainage system. Do not assume it is. Check before making an offer to buy.

4
Avoid building or renovating a French property that is in a flood area. Visit a property you are thinking of buying when it is raining so you can see the impact of water and how it approaches and stays on the property and around the building. Check if water pools on balconies and terraces and by doors. You can find a plan of the potential for flooding in the location of your present or future home by consulting the city hall. If you are building a new home make sure it is above the flood level

5
Avoid finishing the downstairs part of a home that is in a flood area so if a flood happens loses will be minimized. If you need to use the area for storage make sure objects are packaged and stored so water cannot damage them. Make sure your storage locker or garage area in a French apartment building has all your items protected so they will not be damaged by water.

6
Make or buy a barrier that can act as a block from street water entering your home through doors especially if you live in a French village with a road in front of your door.

7
When it rains heavy, grab your umbrella and take the time to go outside to witness if all the gutters and drains are functioning effectively. If not, take photos and show to the appropriate repair person.

8
Consult a flood protection expert that will advise you on ways to protect your home through the use of concrete to flood proof areas.

9
Have a personal and/ or family plan to deal with rising water into or on your property. Know what to do and what to avoid. Make sure emergency gear is not in the area of your home subject to flooding.

B
Protect your French property against Wind
1
Protect the roof
Wind can rip the roof off your home. So when you have your roof renewed consider having bracing added just in case the wind gets too strong in your area. If you do not need to replace your roof investigate if you can add bracing to your roof as it is.

2
Brace your glass sliding doors and avoid installing large glass doors in areas that will be easily impacted by the wind. Buyers look for wind safety hazards when you visit a property. 

3
Make sure the roof on terraces and balconies is strong enough to handle strong wind

4
Inspect and install new window shutters that are strong enough to withstand strong wind. Make sure outside doors for garage and outside storage areas are wind resistant.

5
Remove dangerous trees that could fall on your home or your neighbors. Contact a qualified tree inspector. Some of your trees on your property or by your balcony may be dead or dying and they will be uprooted in a storm.

6
Make sure your chimney is in good condition and properly reinforced against the wind. Remove old chimneys that are not in use. As a buyer if the property has a chimney get it inspected or have the owner get it inspected. It could collapse in a wind store or could be a fire hazard during usage. 

7
Store garden or balcony furniture when it is the season for storms

8
Know the areas in your home or on your property that are safe or safer when there are strong winds.

C
Protect your French property against Fire
1
If by chance a fire occurs in your home make sure you have the appropriate fire extinguisher within easy access. Also have noted the phone number for the local fire department.

2
Make sure you home and the area around it does not contain flammable objects. For example, balconies make with wood flooring as against cement flooring will catch on fire more easily.

3
Make sure travelling objects in the wind that are on fire (like grass or small branches) have no access to blow under or into your house by closing up areas that could be accessible.

4
Install Fire detectors in your French property like this

5
Make sure you have an exit plan in case there is a fire in your home and practice the plan with all members of your home.

D
Prepare your French property against Heat
1
If the weather is getting hotter in the French area you live in you may wish to speak with a roofing company to learn about installing a ‘cool’ roof that is typically a lighter covered roof. Dark colored roofs absorb heat and transfer it into your home.

2
You will also want to investigate a green roof if it is appropriate since green roofs can help reduce cooling and heating costs as well as be good for the environment.

3
Install proper vents where appropriate in your roofing to allow heat to exit effectively. As a buyer check to see if there is already ventilation in the roof.

4
Remember current French property diagnostic reports do not show a new owner the condition of the roof so before you buy have the roof inspected.

5
To manage the temperature in your home you need to make sure circulation of air is correct. This requires you to make sure any air filters used in your heating or cooling system are clean. Check on a regular basis.

6
Manage the temperature in your home with one of the many programmable thermostats. There are thermostats that you can control from outside your home like this one from Nest

7
Make sure you have a plan to manage against extreme heat including adequate storage of drinking water in your home.

BONUS
Prepare for a loss of Electricity in your French property
1
Power outages take most people by surprise and when they happen you most likely will be one of thousands of people without power. Protect yourself while you wait for the repairs to take place by having a standby generator.

Perhaps you think you can live without electric light and without your stove for a while but if you have a pump that keep water out of your basement during storms you need to have power to keep it going so your home is not flooded. Ideally you can have a standby generator or integrated generator connected to your home’s electrical system. Portable generators are a less expensive but less powerful option.

2
Have all your home members aware of an action plan to follow if the power goes out. Easy access to non flammable lighting is essential.

Note: Make sure you have appropriate and current home insurance to help cover the costs of potential damage that could occur due to wind, fire and water.

This article is only a beginning please do your own research that relates to your French property. Be prepared and be safe.