Avoid Basement Water Problems
Is your basement damp? Do you see cracks in the foundation? Gutters can clog and force the water to overflow over the sides thus causing water to accumulate around your foundation.
The number one culprit for causing water penetration into the basement of a house is rain gutter downspouts discharging rain water right alongside the foundation.
Weight from clogs and debris can cause a gutter to pull away from a house or sag and this can also cause water to leak behind the gutter, which wreaks havoc on your home. If your gutters are not hanging properly, they may not channel water into the downspouts in an efficient manner.
When it starts raining outside an incredible amount of water beats down on the roof of your house. Your house principally does the job of protecting your house and everything in it from this rain. Most roofs are sloped in order that the water can run off and prevent heavy collections of rainwater gathering in pockets all over the roof. Water can seep behind the gutters in some circumstances and cause water to leak into your walls causing mold and rot.
If this were to happen the roof can become severely damaged and eventually holes will form where the rainwater once was (it would now be underneath the hole that has formed).
Improperly pitched gutters can end up costing you a very large amount of money and it is important that you regularly check that everything is running smoothly. You can easily tell whether a gutter is pitched properly by watching when it rains. However, you should have it checked regularly when you have your roof checked to make sure that the water isn’t running back into the roof because this will also cause serious damage and it is difficult to tell unless you know what you are looking for. These are the kinds of problems that an experienced Minnesota gutter contractor can spot for you.
All downspouts should discharge the water at least five feet or more from the foundation. If a downspout is discharging water right alongside the foundation, I recommend installing gutters and gutter covers. Getting the water away from the foundation will help to avoid water penetration into the basement and basement flooding.
Install Gutters and Gutter Guards
Controlling the surface water around a home is an important but often overlooked step in maintaining a home. Surface water in this case refers to water introduced to the soil when it rains. The water, if not properly controlled, could lead to water penetration and result in damage to the structure, interior surfaces, and homeowners’ belongings. In addition, hydrostatic pressure that is created when water accumulates next to or below a foundation may cause structural damage to the foundation. The best methods for controlling the surface water are contingent upon local weather patterns, the type of soil and the type of foundation the home has. However, the simplest method to properly divert water away from the property is to use install gutters and gutter guards, combined with proper surface grading around the home.