Sandbags are not enough | Features

…or blow your house down. What we can do now
	Existing buildings	New build	Annual cost of no action
Roofs	Replace loose tiles	Choose fixings for 5-10% higher wind loads	Gales, £1-2bn Fixings, £2.5-7bn
Windows	Maintain well and use good-quality replacements	Choose materials with good ultraviolet resistance and watertightness	PVCu replacements, £2.4bn
Masonry	Render if suffering from rain penetration	Use good building practice for lightweight blockwork to avoid cracking	–
Concrete	Inspect regularly for corrosion of reinforcement	Choose formulation and reinforcement on the assumption of higher rainfall and CO2	–
Driving rain	Render if needed	Design for higher levels of exposure	–
Foundations	Underpin or repair subsidence	Increase foundation depth on susceptible clay soils by 0.5 m	£200-400m
Flooding	Improve defences if possible, review consequences	Avoid flood plains if possible. Raise floor levels, avoid underfloor wiring	£200m
Coastal erosion	Manage retreat if possible.	Do not build on vulnerable areas	£10-30bn of risk (not annual)
Water	Recycle used water or collect rainwater for gardens	Consider water resources when planning new developments	–
Ventilation	Raise temperature to dispel damp	Plan for good natural ventilation, especially in the south in autumn. Consider mechanical ventilation only as last resort	–
Heating/Cooling	If necessary, use some of anticipated 12-19% saving in heating energy to improve comfort and reduce damp	Design new buildings to minimise air-conditioning	–
Regulations Take climate change predictions into account when revising codes. Always build to better than minimum standards