Norwich Union teamed up with Norfolk County Council as part of its Flows Project to install flood resilient alterations to a house in Lowestoft, Suffolk. The objective was to show what can be done to minimise the effect of flooding.

The property belongs to Cotman Housing Association and is one of around 20 in the immediate area that have been flooded a number of times over the last few years. The flooding is caused by a large drainage ditch behind the house, which is unable to deal with above average amounts of water. However, the resilient repairs put in place help recovery time for all types of flooding.

Tracey Nunn, 30, who lives there says, "I have grown used to water coming right up to my front door, but since my home was refitted I definitely have a greater peace of mind.

"Before, when we had a flood warning, we would have had to move all our belongings upstairs and empty all the kitchen units. You couldn't go to bed at night for the fear a flood would happen while you were asleep. But the last time this area was seriously flooded I just had a trickle of water that came through the flood guard on the front door, so it was a mop and bucket job, everything else was dry and safe. Some of my neighbours weren't so lucky they were left with soaking wet carpets and furnishings.

"If I ever am seriously flooded again I know I should be able to move back home pretty quickly and hopefully it will just be a matter of wiping down the walls and maybe a bit of decorating instead of waiting weeks for everything to dry out."

Norwich Union spent around £30,000 installing resilient measures in Tracey's house, but taking just some of these measures could seriously reduce the damage that flood water can do to your home. The cost is also drastically reduced if the measures are built-in to new properties.

Simon Black, head of flood mapping at Norwich Union, says: "If you live in a flood risk area resilient measures could certainly help you get insurance and in some cases keep your premiums down. More importantly though these type of changes could mean that you prevent horrible flood water sloshing through your home and months living in alternative accommodation while your property dries out."

"Obviously we have refurbished Tracey's whole house, but we would advise all those in flood areas to think about small changes that can be made to their homes when they next re-decorate or do a bit of DIY. Your insurance company will also help and advise on these measures if you are currently claiming for flood damage."

Norwich Union and its partners spent around £30,000 installing a range of measures to make the property more flood resilient.

For example the builders removed:

• The existing vinyl flooring from the kitchen

• Thermoplastic floor tiles and carpet from the remainder of the downstairs skirting, wall tiles and plaster from the walls

These were replaced with:

• Ceramic tiled floors

• The skirting was re-fitted with flood proof material

• Walls replastered up to 1 metre above floor level with Limelite Renovating Plaster - to limit the dampness seeping into the walls

• New internal doors, frames and linings to make them easier to remove

• The builders have also installed all the main appliances on plinths, new steel kitchen units with base units raised off the ground and raised electrical points above flood level. A new waste system and double check valves to stop waste water coming through the pipes into the house have also been fitted

• The front and back doors were also re-designed to accommodate flood guards which help prevent water entering the property in the first place