Best way to seal a brick house against infrequent 4-6" flood water?

Hi buzz, I recall reading this a while back and thought it was pretty brilliant.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3637271/Texas-man-uses-dam-filled-WATER-house-dry-27-inch-flood.html

I know you only have 4-6” of flood water, but perhaps the idea can be used. I know there are similar tubes used for pool cover weights that are a much smaller diameter.

Cheers!

Also, if you do end up using a concrete wall solution, consider using this relatively unknown additive:  http://www.cementaid.com/waterproofing-admixtures.htm  Why it’s not used in all concrete foundations and slabs is beyond me.

 

I think I would probably adhere a delta membrane about a foot above the dirt line and then use some tile cement to adhere a strip of Durock cement board to the exterior to hide the delta lining. Then, I would cover the whole thing with parchment cement to give it a clean finish. How deep you will have to go with the delta membrane will really depend on how long the water sits there. The longer you expect the water to sit, the deeper you will have to go to stop moisture from going into the basement.

There are too many variables here to offer a pat answer. Are the exterior walls monolithic brick, or brick veneer on framing? Does the house sit on a crawlspace, or a basement, or is it slab-on-grade?

The big risk here is adding something that prevents the wall from performing appropriately the rest of the year. If it’s monolithic brick, any waterproofing on the exterior would reduce the ability of the wall to dry to the exterior. If it’s brick veneer, the waterproofing will obstruct the weeps and prevent water from draining out of the cavity.  Both are bad, but the veneer scenario is worse.

I think the solution pushstick suggested is much, much better, since it keeps the flood away from the house (including doors and windows) and doesn’t affect the way the wall manages water the rest of the year.