Spring Tips for Exterior Drainage

At this time of year, during the Winter thaw and the Spring rains to come, it is very important to check a few items around your home. 

 

Make sure gutters and downspouts are attached properly to the home.  Tighten any loose gutters and reconnect any unattached downspouts to help keep water away from the house.  It is imperative that gutters and downspouts are clear and free-flowing.

If there is standing water against the home's foundation, eventually it could find its way into your home.  Have a drainage professional re-grade around your home’s foundation.  Creating a positive and lasting pitch away from the home is important.  It is a gradual pitch that an exterior drainage specialist can measure for you.  It is never recommended to landscape around the home’s foundation without a proper pitch and grade.

Downspout Extensions

The goal of your gutter/downspout system is to deliver water from the large roof area away from the foundation of your home. To aid in this goal, we recommend buried downspout extensions on all downspouts.

We use a High-density polyethylene (HDPE) which is a very strong and corrosion-resistant piping.

Rain, rain go away!

Every season provides it’s own set of challenges with keeping water from damaging our home and property. As winter comes to an end, we can expect two impending culprits: melting snow and spring rain.

We are all familiar with the saying “April showers bring May flowers.” But, those same rain showers often bring flooding and water damage to our property. During a heavy rain, water can provide unwanted hydrostatic pressure to a home's foundation. At other times, rain may simply flood a backyard or basement.

Usually an improperly pitched property provides a direct path for water to move towards a home causing flooding and seepage, which can lead to mold growth inside the home. With a few simple tips, you can help prevent water damage and the effects it leaves behind.

•  Keep gutters clean and working properly.
•  Check your window wells and covers.
•  Extend downspouts 8-10' from your home. 
•  Inspect your property after a rainfall.

Unfortunately,  sometimes following these tips is not enough to keep your home safe from water damage. Affordable remedies are available and Integrity Drainage Solutions provides a variety of answer for drainage problems throughout Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and Ozaukee Counties. Our experienced drainage technicians use a variety of systems and specialized tools to address your current issues and help prevent complications like mold or costly foundation repairs.