What are you currently doing to keep your home’s foundation safe from water damage? There are many homeowners who are not actively keeping their foundations free of water damage or don’t know how to. This is unfortunate because the foundation is arguably the most important part of a home.
You absolutely want your home’s foundation to stay strong for many more years. Therefore, it’s important that you aim to keep water away from it. Here are some tips that can help you avoid foundation water damage.
- Clean and Maintain Your Gutters Regularly
Your gutters won’t be able to handle rainwater if they are all clogged by debris or need repairs. They are supposed to send the rain down your downspouts and away from your home and foundation. Instead, the rain will sit and build up inside of your clogged gutters whenever it rains. The water will eventually begin to spill out and over the sides. This water will end up close to your home and pool around your foundation.
You ought to clean your gutters once or twice every year to help avoid this. Make any repairs to your gutter system that are needed also.
- Use Downspouts to Direct Water Away From Your Home
The downspouts on your home are supposed to take water away from your home. In fact, it ought to be moving the water a minimum of 10 feet from your foundation. This keeps water from finding its way into your foundation, even after hours and hours of hard rain.
Are your downspouts not doing this currently? Then you need to consider having them redesigned to move water more effectively or purchase downspout extensions. Either of these options will protect your home from water build up around the foundation during a rainstorm.
- Make Sure the Ground Surrounding Your Foundation Slopes Away From It
Look at the ground around your foundation. Is it sloping in the direction of your home? If that is the case, then the ground is encouraging water to head towards your foundation instead of away from it.
The ground at your foundation should slope at least 6 inches every 10 feet away from your foundation. This will make sure that all the water is carried away from your home instead of towards it.
A foundation that has been damaged due to exposure to water weakens a house and puts it at risk. That’s why you need to stop any foundation water damage at all costs. It will make your home stronger and more secure your home as well as give you peace of mind.
For foundation questions, we recommend contacting a professional to help. Our team at MrRestore may also be able to assist in this situation. The important thing is that you need to act fast. Try to avoid any unnecessary delays after you notice that water has built up in your basement. The sooner you can get the water removed, the lower the chances are of extensive damage.
