The main problem and enemy of a basement is water. Water can come into your house through the foundation, basement floors, and cracks on the walls. When there is a downpour, the rainwater that comes gushing into your house, which is also referred to as hydrostatic pressure, can crack the foundation and allow seepage. You don’t have to wait to see an awful sight of your wet basement before you take preventive actions. Here’s what you can do now.
Check Up On Your Gutters and Downspouts
Gutters and downspouts work hand in hand for your house’s drainage system. So, if either or both of them are not working well, you will certainly have leak problems. Gutters must always be clean and free from debris. Schedule a regular inspection and maintenance for your gutters and make sure that there are no leaves, asphalt shingle granules, sticks, twigs, and the like that obstruct the free flow of water down the pipe. Clogged gutters is distressing because they don’t catch rainwater effectively, causing it instead to overflow to your house’s exterior walls and foundation. To prevent all kinds of debris from clogging your gutters, install leaf guards.
Meanwhile, downspouts are responsible for discharging rainwater coming from the gutters away from your house. However, in some homes, the downspout’s end is too close to the house’s foundation. Certainly in such case, water will just gush to the basement walls and foundation when it is discharged. Thus, make sure that your downspout keeps a considerable distance from the foundation by installing a downspout extension. Also, the grade should slope away from the house so that water won’t puddle anywhere near the foundation and flow into your house.
Ensure Correct Grade
Work with your landscaper or contractor when doing a landscape plan for your home. The plan must include a good and effective drainage system and correct grade. As has been pointed out, the grade should slope away from the house. Otherwise, water would just seep through the soil and into the foundation and basement walls. Your landscaper should know how to protect your basement from leaks by coming up with a good landscape plan.
Waterproof Your Walls
Waterproofing your walls is the most expensive way of preventing a leaky basement. However, it is also the most effective. To waterproof your basement walls, you have to dig up around your house to get to the walls of your basement. You would have to hire a contractor to do the digging. Use a waterproofing product such as a wall coating or an insulation membrane to make the walls waterproof. The waterproof wall coating is an amazing product as it does not only repel water or moisture but also seal cracks and holes. Get the most out of this huge job by installing foundation drains as well.
Ask Help From the Pros
You can always call in a contractor to help you with your gutter, drainage, and basement inspection and maintenance. This is especially recommended if you are not comfortable with many of the tasks involved and if you are not confident about having the skills needed to accomplish the job. Moreover, a professional can guide you by giving you expert and practical tips on the technical aspects of basement work.
This home improvement article was written in behalf of McIntyre Masonry. McIntyre Masonry is an established stonemasonry company based in central Scotland that provides quality stonemasonry services carried out by well-experienced stonemasons.
