We tend to focus on the parts of ourselves and the parts of our homes that we like best – emphasizing a great view with a picture window, a voluptuous oak tree with a porch swing, a fireplace with a set of chaise lounge chairs, etc. To make sure these areas continue to look fabulous when the winter months wane into the sopping spring, learn how to create your own sandbags to combat the negative effects of a flooded basement.

Especially if you live near a water way, the melting snow and ice can cause water levels to rise and water to seep into your home.  Using the same sandbags that municipalities within flood planes use can help protect your basement or garden shed from flooding.

1. You’ll want to gather the following items from a home improvement store or hardware shop, along with the help of another person: plastic or cloth sandbags, polyethylene sheets, a lot of sand (they will be about 40 lb bags of sand), a large shovel, and a wheelbarrow.
2. Fill the sandbags 25% to 50% full of sand. The top half of it remaining empty is key to ensuring the sand is kept sealed in tightly.
3. Fold over the empty area of the bag so that the open edge faces down. This will help in case the water level aggressively rises in order to keep the bag from filling up with the tide/rain. Keep in mind that if one bag leaks in a pile, the entire effort is ruined.
4. Dig a trench around an area you want to protect, or simply load them up against a door or wall of your home at least ten bags high. If digging a trench, it should be approximately 4- 6 inches deep and 18- 24 inches wide.
5. For the trench, lay down the polyethylene sheeting and secure the material on each edge with sandbags to keep it in place. Similar to the trench, your house should be protected with a similar plastic lining before layering the sandbags.
6. Your house should begin with a layer of bags with the tied end on top, followed by layers of horizontal bags for stability. In the trench, simply fill in the remaining space with bags, one row at a time, staggering the second row like bricks atop the first.
7. Ideally, your trench will be up to three rows tall. If you go too high, you’ll risk them tipping over too easily. For sandbagging your home, the height must be higher than the water level is expected to rise. The sandbags around your house should soundly lean on areas of focus, like doorways and garages
8. When the rain and flooding ceases, empty the bags into your garden and keep the bags for the following year.

Much of the nation has experienced flooding over the past few weeks, and the meteorologists don’t see the risks decreasing anytime soon.  When the ten day forecast calls for days of rain, a few sandbags could save you thousands of dollars in home repairs!