How to Prevent Basement and Yard Flooding
The weather really knows how to mess with us this time of year. The temperatures are getting warmer…but the rain is just getting started.
Unfortunately, this creates the perfect storm for flood weather. But wait – there’s also some good news because you’re not completely helpless. There are a few preventative measures you can take to ensure your yard and basement don’t spend this April drowning in showers.
Grade Your Yard
To avoid incoming water, the ground should always slope away from your home. To achieve this, you’ll need to understand the high and low points of your home, and use extra dirt to slope accordingly.
Add Mulch
Fill garden areas graded away from your home with a few inches of mulch to help keep soil in place for when it rains. If mulching near your home, make sure the mulch is at least six inches from your siding to avoid creating an environment that can develop into rot.
Plant Grass
The root structure of grass can help absorb water. Once it grows in, avoid cutting your lawn too short, as it weakens the roots and can lead to flooding in your yard, and possibly your home.
Make Sure Downspouts Are Turned Away From Your Home
This may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. Be sure to direct your downspouts toward lawn areas that are graded away from your home so that the water does not simply flow back toward your outside walls and sit.
Install A Sump Pump
Finally, you may want to put a little money into prevention. In the long run, it’s cheaper than the alternative. For all you sump pump newbies, it acts like a big floor drain, sucking any water out of your basement or out of the surrounding foundation and redirecting it elsewhere out of harm’s way.
If you have a question about how you can help prevent your yard or basement from flooding, call your Louisville Dauenhauer, any hour.
