Most people hate the rainy seasons for reasons such as being stuck inside their homes when they’d love to enjoy the sun, getting wet in the rain, or having to cancel outdoor activities. However, the worries of homeowners are quite different. They include flooded yards, leaky roofs, wet patios, and damage to the foundation of their homes.
While little rain may not be a problem, homes with poor drainage systems can suffer severe damage to the foundation, cracks on the foundation walls, weakness in the structural integrity of the home, and ultimately, unexpected expenses on repair. Unfortunately, when not addressed immediately, these problems tend to worsen with time, and ultimately cost the homeowner a lot more than should have been spent in the first place.
In this article, we furnish you with the best methods to protect your home from rain and highlight the benefits of keeping your foundation waterproofed. For further resources about how to waterproof your foundation, click here.
Foundation waterproofing and regular inspection
Regular inspection by a professional will save the foundation of your home, especially during the season of heavy rain.
A professional inspection will involve assessing the current state of your foundation to determine whether a crack repair is necessary. For the prevention of cracks and water infiltration, a professional can recommend basement waterproofing to reinforce the foundation.
The foundation of your home must remain strong to minimize the risks that accompany heavy rain. Engaging the service of an experienced foundation repair contractor will go a long way to ensure that your foundation is kept in perfect order.
You may want to check Better Business Bureau for professional foundation contractors around you and what past clients have to say about them.
The Gutters
The simplest and very effective way of protecting your foundation from damage in times of heavy rain is to redirect water away from your property. So it is important that your gutters are kept in working order.
When clogged with dirt and debris, gutters cannot work properly. However, with regular cleaning, gutters function effectively when the rain comes. If you are not able to clean the gutters yourself, you can call a professional to get it done. Gutter guards can also be installed to prevent debris from getting into the gutters in the first place.
To keep your home protected during the rainy season, the gutters will do the following:
- Protects the foundation from damage: When the gutter system on the roof is effective, it serves as a protective mechanism for the foundation of your home. As rain falls, the gutters collect water as it streams off your roof and moves the water away via a downspout. If unclogged, the downspout effortlessly directs the water to a good distance from your property or into a more extensive drainage system. This mechanism prevents water buildup around your home’s foundation keeping it waterproofed.
- Prevents water infiltration: Water easily flows through any path with the least resistance. Even with the smallest crack, moisture can infiltrate your concrete foundation. If water eventually saturates the dirt underneath your home, it results in the buildup of undue pressure in the foundation. However, this can be prevented with properly functioning gutters as they redirect water away from your property.
- Protection from hydrocompaction: When water saturates the ground around a property, it can result in the expansion of the clay soil, and small silt particles are washed away in the process. This creates unwanted spaces in the ground and weakens the soil under the foundation of your home. This phenomenon is known as hydrocompaction. An effective way of keeping this from happening is through rain gutters.
- Protection from mold and pest invasion: Fungi, mosquitoes, woo-burrowing pests, mold, and many other kinds of disease-transmitting insects are attracted by stagnant water, being a good breeding ground for them. However, with properly working gutters, water buildup is kept from developing around the property. By redirecting water away from your home, not only is the foundation of your home protected from damage, you and your family are protected from these unwanted pests.
French Drains Installation
French drains and other ground drainage systems help to effectively redirect water away from the foundation of the home. With this method, water is directed through a trench that is filled with gravel into a perforated pipe at the trench’s bottom. This perforated pipe drains the water far away from the home keeping your waterproofed.
French drains help to protect your foundation by doing the following;
- Protects the basement, crawl space, and the lower level of the home: With the help of French drains, the foundation and other lower levels of the home are protected from the destructive effects of moisture. Therefore, as soon as you observe that the walls or floors of your rooms, basement, or crawl space are damp or are oozing musty smells, you should install French drains.
- Prevents damage to your outdoor patio: During a rainy season, there can buildup of excess water around the patio, and this causes problems. However, if a French drain is installed, water can be diverted before it gets to the patio. This not only protects the concrete from deterioration but also prevents pesky mosquitoes from being attracted to any stagnant water.
Paying attention to surrounding vegetation
One of the most essential elements for the survival of plants is water. For example, the installation of flowerbeds close to your foundation will inevitably attract water. In times of heavy rainfall, these plants will not be able to meet up with the absorption of the excess water. The implication of this is that the unabsorbed moisture has more time to cause damage to your foundation and seep into your home. Therefore, never keep flower beds close to the foundation of your home.
Also, the roots of trees and other large plants usually spread to damp areas. With moisture around your foundation, these roots – in their quest for water – tend to clog or damage drainage systems. So, it is important that you do a regular inspection of your drains to ensure that they are working perfectly enough to withstand heavy rainfall.
Hire an Expert Company to Waterproof Your Foundation
There are many effective methods that can be used to protect your house from rain including the installation of French drains and properly functioning gutters. You shouldn’t wait for obvious damage to your foundation before engaging the service of an experienced foundation repair contractor to troubleshoot your foundation. A professional will give you detailed answers and recommendations on the best protective approach for your home’s foundation for rainy days.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
