Flood control panels are now one of the top ways homeowners and business owners protect their buildings from rising water. But the big question is simple – do they actually work?
The short answer: yes, when they’re engineered correctly, built with strong materials, and installed the right way.
The longer answer involves understanding how water behaves and how much pressure a flood barrier really faces.
The Difference Between Inches and Feet of Water
It might seem like a flood panel that blocks a few inches of water can handle a few feet. In reality, water pressure doesn’t work that way.
Every extra foot of water adds a lot more force.
- At just 1 foot, water pushes with about 62 pounds per square foot
- At 3 feet, that jumps to almost 190 pounds per square foot – and that’s before considering waves or debris.
So while many panels hold up during light flooding, a storm surge is a whole new level of stress. That’s why real protection depends on engineering strength, solid materials, and precise installation. Cheap systems without proper testing simply don’t stand a chance.
Installation Quality – The Foundation of Performance
Even the strongest barrier can fail if it’s installed poorly. Performance depends on:
- Anchoring to solid concrete or masonry
- Panels aligned evenly and securely
- Correct torque on bolts and clamps
- Professional-grade sealants and silicones
Small gaps or uneven joints can let water slip through under pressure. Rubicon Flood Control uses industrial-grade, UV-resistant sealants that stay flexible through Florida’s heat and humidity, ensuring long-term durability.
Aluminum Deflection – The Hidden Weak Point
Aluminum is tough but can bend slightly when pressure builds. That bending, or deflection, can cause the rubber seals to shift and lose their tight seal – and when that happens, water gets in.
Rubicon panels are engineered to resist deflection under high pressure. Our systems stay rigid and watertight even during heavy surge events.
Not All Rubber Seals Are Equal
The rubber seal is what keeps floodwater out – but not all seals can handle Florida’s harsh conditions.
Many low-cost systems use poor-quality rubber that dries out or cracks in the sun. Rubicon uses only EPDM rubber seals, chosen for their:
- Excellent UV and ozone resistance
- Long-lasting flexibility
- Ability to spring back after compression
That means Rubicon seals keep their grip and stay watertight year after year.
We Did Some Testing!
To see how our panels perform under real pressure, Rubicon Flood Control built a 3-foot-deep aluminum test tank – a setup that recreates what happens when floodwater stands several feet high against a building. The panels and posts were mounted to the open side and filled to three-quarters full, producing nearly 190 pounds of pressure per square foot at the base.
That’s roughly the same pressure as water sitting three feet deep outside your door during a storm surge. In real life, that kind of flooding can last several hours or even a full day before it drains.
After 24 hours, our system leaked only about 8 gallons of water – less than a single mop bucket. The reality is that even the best-engineered flood systems can allow a small amount of seepage under sustained pressure. But let’s keep it realistic: when installed correctly, you won’t see meaningful water intrusion. And even if a little does get through, it’s minor – the kind you can easily mop up, not the kind that floods your floors.
For context, even a tightly stacked wall of sandbags would allow dozens, sometimes hundreds of gallons of water to pass through under that same pressure. Sandbags are built to slow water, not stop it. They leak steadily as water seeps through seams and fibers, often saturating the protected side within minutes. In a multi-hour surge, the area behind a sandbag wall can end up soaked or even flooded several inches deep.
Eight gallons in 24 hours under a 3-foot hydrostatic load is an exceptional outcome – especially considering small imperfections in the test setup, such as panel alignment and minor deflection.
Now imagine the alternative. Without a flood barrier, those same three feet of water pressing on your door and walls would force thousands of gallons inside. You wouldn’t be mopping – you’d be dealing with one to two feet of standing water full of silt, debris, and potentially contaminated runoff from nearby streets and drains. The cleanup could take weeks, not hours, and repairs could cost tens of thousands.
Our test showed what the numbers already suggested: Rubicon panels don’t just slow the flood – they stand firm against the full force of it, keeping most of the water where it belongs – outside.
Other Paths Water Can Take
Flood control panels protect doors and openings, but water can still find other entry points in a structure. That’s why a full flood protection plan includes sealing all possible weak spots.
Utility Penetrations
Pipes, cables, and AC lines that pass through walls can let water in if old sealants crack or shrink. These should be sealed with waterproof compounds that match the flood system’s materials.
Foundation Cracks
Small cracks near the base of a wall can leak under pressure. Sealing them with polyurethane or epoxy keeps groundwater out and supports your flood panels.
Backed-Up Sewer Lines
During heavy rain or surge, sewer systems can reverse flow, forcing wastewater up through drains and toilets. Installing a backflow prevention valve stops this and protects your home from internal flooding.
The Reality of Storm Surge
No system can promise to stop every drop of water, and storm surge is unpredictable. But a well-designed flood panel system gives you a strong, tested line of defense.
Rubicon Flood Control panels are built and engineered in Florida to handle Florida’s climate. They combine solid aluminum construction, precise installation, and high-grade sealing to protect your property when it matters most.
When the next hurricane comes, you’ll want every possible advantage – and Rubicon gives you exactly that: dependable, engineered flood protection you can trust.
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