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There’s nothing more frustrating when your basement floods. After you’re done cleaning up the damage, you have to get to the root of the problem — so it doesn’t happen again. The water could be coming from the poorly directed roof drains or puddles forming alongside the foundation.
It is well worth the effort to ensure the basement stays dry, and here are a few tips to help you:
1. Properly grade around your foundation. Surface water, whether from rain or melting snow, should not pool up against your house. If water is pooling against your house, it may work its way down the foundation — looking for a path to get in. Make sure the dirt is graded in a gentle slope, away from the house. If your house does not have gutters and downspouts, you can ensure the water drains away from your house by using plastic and landscaping rocks.
2. Roof runoff and downspouts. The best option is to have gutters collect the water, and downspouts that drain away from the house. If your house is on a flat lot with no place to drain, you can consider adding in a drywell. Make sure the downspouts direct the water on to splash blocks that direct the water away from the foundation.
3. Footer drains. If you are building a new home, be sure to include footer drains. A footer drain runs all the way around the foundation, below the level of the basement floor. To correct the problem on an existing house, you should install the footer drain inside or outside the house, depending on your lot and relative ease of the work. By installing a footer drain, you will keep a rising water table from rising into your basement.
If you have continual water in your basement and need help, contact Shorewest Home Services.
Categories: DIY, Home Improvement
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