Over the past few weeks, the North West of the UK has seen persistent rainfall and stormy conditions, with many areas experiencing surface water and river flooding especially in parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria. As local businesses respond to these conditions, it’s more important than ever to focus on flood preparedness and protecting your premises from water damage.
Flooding can be extremely disruptive for shops, cafes and retail spaces — not just because of water entering a building, but also due to damage to roller shutters, electrical systems, stock and fittings. Here’s what you need to know to protect your investment and keep trading.
Why Flooding Happens in Urban Areas
Even without rivers overflowing, heavy rainfall can overwhelm drains and surface water systems in urban environments like the North West. This can lead to flash floods that enter properties through doors, vents or low-lying entrances. The Environment Agency now issues flood alerts and warnings which can help you prepare in advance — and they’ve recently expanded this service across parts of Greater Manchester to deliver early warning messages to homes and businesses.
Practical Ways to Protect Your Roller Shutters and Shopfront
1. Check Your Flood Risk and Sign Up for Alerts
Before floods strike, make sure you know the risk level for your postcode. You can sign up for free flood warnings via GOV.UK, which will alert you by phone, text or email if flooding is expected.
2. Install Temporary Flood Barriers
Temporary flood barriers or sandbags can be deployed quickly at the first sign of rising water. These act as a first line of defence to stop water entering through roller shutters or doors — particularly useful if storms are forecast.
3. Seal Gaps Around Shutters
Small gaps between the shutter tracks and the wall can allow water to seep in. Using waterproof seals and silicone around the edges of your shutter frame can significantly reduce this risk.
4. Maintain Shutters Regularly
Ensure your roller shutters are well-maintained with regular cleaning, greasing of moving parts and rust checks. A well-serviced shutter will be more resilient in adverse conditions and less likely to jam or fail.
5. Consider Drainage Improvements
Installing small drainage solutions like trench drains or sump pumps near your shopfront can help divert water away before it reaches doorways and shutter bases.
6. Invest in Flood-Resistant Upgrades
For longer-term protection, you may want to look at flood-resistant roller shutters or water-resistant slats. Retrofitting seals and reinforcing shutter boxes can also help minimise water ingress.
Don’t Forget the Bigger Picture
Flood resilience isn’t just about roller shutters — it’s about having a plan in place for your business:
- Create a business flood plan that includes how to respond during a flood, key contact numbers (e.g. your insurer, council and utilities) and procedures for protecting stock and equipment. GOV.UK has a full business flood plan checklist to help you get started.
- Review your insurance cover to make sure it includes flood damage and business interruption — many standard policies exclude flooding unless specifically added.
- Keep important documents and electrical items stored above ground level so they’re less likely to be damaged if water enters your premises.
Trusted Resources & Further Reading
- Preparing your business for flooding – official guidance from the Environment Agency and GOV.UK, including checklists and planning tools:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-your-business-for-flooding (GOV.UK) - Adapting your home or business to the risk of flooding – UK government advice on reducing flood damage:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adapting-your-home-or-business-to-the-risk-of-flooding (GOV.UK) - Shopfront and shutter solutions from us at UK Doors and Shutters — practical products and advice to help protect your premises:
https://www.ukdoorsandshutters.co.uk/
Heavy rain and flooding pose a real risk to businesses across the North West, but with proper planning and the right protective measures, you can greatly minimise the impact on your shopfront — particularly your roller shutters and entrance areas.
Being proactive now means less downtime, fewer repair costs and greater peace of mind when storms hit again, if you have any roller shutter problems due to flood damage speak to a member of our team today and we can help you through your insurance company to get your shutters and shopfronts back to working order.
