How to Achieve Proper Home Drainage

A damp basement is never a good thing.

It smells, mould can form (bringing a whole slew of other issues) and it can create damage to your flooring, furniture and more.

In many cases, ineffective home drainage systems are the reason for leaky basements. Here’s what you should be focussing on to ensure the drainage around your home is adequate.

Grading and Slope

The first thing to consider when assessing your home’s drainage systems is the grading around your foundation. Too shallow of a grade creates water pooling whereas steep grades can create erosion problems.

A two percent grading away from the foundation is sufficient for most homes, although a foundation expert knows best. If you notice some low spots developing, fill them immediately before a bigger problem occurs.

Have a particular area in your yard where water is always forming? A French drain may help! These small trenches have perforated pipes surrounded by sand or gravel to help channel water away from the foundation, and thus, keeping the water out of your basement.

Eavestroughs

Eavestroughs or gutters help rainwater run off the roof and away from your home’s foundation. Without them, a pool can quickly form beside the foundation, causing wet basement problems.

To ensure proper drainage, your eavestroughs should have a downward slope of a half inch every ten feet. Although the minimum size of a downspout is 2X3 inches, a larger size is even better. This makes it less likely that anything will block the downspout and cause water blockages.

Firmly attach the eavestroughs to your roof with screws so that they stand the test of time. If your eavestroughs are sectioned off, check that the seams are well sealed so that water doesn’t leak through.

Install guttering and downspouts with downspout extensions to remove runoff a minimum of five feet from your home’s foundation. Keep them cleared of debris and in excellent condition so that water doesn’t end up near the foundation.

Foundation Drain Tile

New construction normally requires foundation drain tile to be installed around the foundation’s perimeter. This perforated tubing empties into a sump pump when the water level reaches a certain level.

It’s important to always ensure your sump pump is in good working order and to have a back-up or alarm installed in case of power failure.

Trench Drains and Swales

In some cases, a yard’s existing grading is already close to a home’s siding. When that’s the case, an excavation contractor can make a series of swales (similar to shallow ditches) that divert water away from your home.

Although these are all great tips to follow when it comes to achieving proper home drainage, the best advice is to contact a foundation professional.

Foundation Fix can complete a foundation inspection at your home to assess whether any changes need to be made to prevent moisture problems. Contact us today to learn about how we can install an adequate home drainage system at your home in the St. Catharines/Niagara region!