Proper drainage starts far away from your home. There are 5 major areas to consider to stop water from ever entering. You can redirect the water away from your home instead of every buying a sump pump.
1. Interior Foundation Inspection
It is very important to inspect the foundation from inside the home. Observations in this area can show the extent of your drainage issues. The wall may be damp or wet, or water may even be streaming through the wall or floor. It is also important to consider the amount of water and how often issues arise before, especially during and after storms. As part of the interior foundation inspection, you should specifically examine pipes entering or exiting the home, windows and other areas that commonly allow water into the basement.
2. Exterior home inspection
Cracks, flaking paint, accumulated dirt and porosity are all signs water is currently breaching the foundation. These are identified with a thorough exterior inspection. Part of this inspection is always subterraneous, looking at the areas below ground around the home. If water has been allowed to pool and or to sink into the ground close to the foundation, it may create vertical, horizontal and skewed cracks which is the number one way for water to enter. If there is a tree close to the foundation, the roots can also cause breaches in the foundation.
3. Roof Water Removal System
This is the system by which water is removed from the roof, down the side of the house and to the ground. Most people only have gutters and leaders that drop the water right next to the house. This can be perfectly fine, but for some it is the very reason their basement floods. The second half and a very important part of the system is what happens to the water after it makes it to ground level. It can either be left or moved away from the foundation. This can be done either via surface drain or pipes, often schedule 40 PVC pipe. In some cases water only needs to be moved 5 feet away, other properties might require as much as 100 feet, each home provides a unique set of challenges.
4. Micrograding
Micro-grading is the grading immediately around your home, generally up to about 5 feet away, although it could be up to 15-20 feet. It controls how water will flow around your home. If water is puddling anywhere near your home, there is a high chance it will negatively affect your foundation. Things like the steps, large bushes, and improperly pitched sidewalks are all types of micro-grading issues that can cause flooding and permanent damage to your foundation, belongings and health .
5. Macrograding
Macro-grading is the grading for your entire property. It controls the overall flow of water in your property from high to low. Large sums of water can come from your neighbors, or from the 4 houses behind your home. Redirecting of this water minimizes the amount of water that ever gets near your foundation. One option is to change the grade. It can be beneficial to drop the water from the high edge of your property into a curtain drain or a trench drain can often remove as much as 80% of the water affecting your home.
Summary
By making improvements in any one of these areas, you can eliminate water from coming into your home. Why wouldn’t you try to eliminate it from outside first before getting a sump pump? 95% of the time, a sump pump is not necessary. Instead, you can redirect the water around your home. At Exceptional Stone Products, we use a detailed system including the Drainage Report Card to consider all the factors that may be causing water to enter your home. We develop drainage solutions and stonework to protect and beautify your home.
Exceptional Stone Products specializes in stone steps, patios, retaining walls, fire pits and more. When we create your beautiful stonework, we incorporate drainage to redirect the water around your home, eliminating future damage which will save you thousands. Learn more at exceptionalstoneproducts.com
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