How To Prevent Basement Flooding With Smart Landscaping
Basements are both a great treasure and a source of great worry. While it's wonderful to have a dedicated storage space, the threat of flooding looms large in the minds of many homeowners. Luckily, you greatly reduce the chances of flooding by implementing some strategic landscape changes.
The Basic Idea
When it comes to keeping excess water away from the home, most people don't realize the importance played by the land directly around their foundation. For that reason, many people assume that they are dealing with a serious structural problem, when in fact the issue is one of exterior drainage. Having too much water pooled up outside of your basement may be all it takes for flooding to occur.
Begin by taking a stroll around your yard, paying attention for any and all of the following:
direction of the soil's slopelength of gutter downspoutslocation of planter beds and shrubs
Though ostensibly quite different from one another, these three things share one common denominator: when improperly designed, they encourage water to hang around where it shouldn't.
Soil Slope
The slope of your soil dictates which way rainwater will drain. The worst case scenario is a lawn that slopes downward toward your home, as this will lead water right to the walls of your foundation. Because it allows water to stand in place, a flat yard can be almost as bad. Ensure that your soil slopes downward away from your home with a minimum of a 2% grade.
Downspouts
Downspouts that are too short are the cause of many wet basement woes. That's because, even if your soil is properly graded, dumping all that water too close to your home will promote the formation of basement leaks. If you haven't already, be sure to invest in extensions for all of your downspouts. These will help to carry rainwater a safe distance from your home. Check periodically to see that the extensions haven't come loose.
Planter Beds
Flowers, bushes, and shrubs can do wonders for improving the appearance of your home. Yet when placed too close, they can cause unwanted problems. That's because, when a particular root dies and rots away, it leaves a vacant area where water tends to pool. If such