HOW TO GUARD YOUR HOME AGAINST WATER LEAKING IN
Check for eavestroughs clogs, damaged foundations and landscape drainage
Now that we’re into the spring season, I’m expecting to get a lot of questions from homeowners about water concerns, particularly when it seeps into your basement.
With that in mind, here are some common issues to look out for.
DEALING WITH GROUNDWATER
There is always water in the ground, but depending on your environment and location, the depth of your water table will rise and fall during the year. Here in Canada, it’s a pretty safe bet that with the spring melt and potential April showers, the water table will be higher.
There are a few ways that your home may be constructed to deal with this water — and if they’re not functioning properly you could be seeing that misplaced water seeping into your basement. Water likes to follow the path of least resistance, and if it’s not being properly kept away from the home, the porous concrete of your foundation will want to absorb that moisture.
Your weeping tile, also known as drain tile, is a perforated pipe that is placed underground next to your basement foundation and is meant to move unwanted water away from the walls.
In older homes, you’ll generally find weeping tile made from clay, while these days, it’s usually made from perforated flex piping that allows water to enter. If your basement has water, a damaged weeping tile could be a culprit.
Often, these clay weeping tiles systems haven’t been set up to drain adequately, and will release water too close to the home. It’s only a matter of time until that causes problems for your foundation.
Roots can penetrate the tile, creating a dam, or causing damage to the system. You can have your tiles scoped by a pro who can check to see if there are any root clogs damming your system. Experts can run a shark tooth saw through the tile to remove those intrusive roots, but that’s only a Band-Aid solution — especially if the tile has crumbled or shifted.
If the damage is extensive, it’s time to replace the tile. It won’t be a cheap fix, but it’s one you will want to take care of as soon as possible.
If you’re already digging to replace your weeping tile, it’s a great time to bring in a waterproofing expert to ensure your foundation is properly protected from water. Here you will be able to address any cracks you find in the foundation — as well as ensure it’s properly guarded from water.
CLEARING YOUR EAVESTROUGHS
A clogged eavestrough can prevent water from safely draining away from your home, and instead spill directly over the gutters, dumping water straight to your foundation. Downspouts are a case where size does matter — I would recommend using six-inch (15.2 cm) aluminum gutters to better handle heavy rains. And use aluminum because it will weather any storm better than plastic gutters.
If you find that you are frequently going up your ladder to clean the gutters of debris, you can install a screen over top that will keep the dead leaves out, and allow water to flow through freely. Where do your gutters discharge? Take a look where your eavestrough system drains out. Some downspouts empty too close to the home, I like to see that they’re depositing water at least six feet (1.83 m) away.
DRAINAGE AND YOUR LANDSCAPING
Are you taking on any landscaping projects this season? I mentioned last week that your landscape design can cause water problems if not carefully considered.
Even something as simple as mounding up the soil in a flower bed near your home can cause problems with draining. I would keep the garden far away from your home and leave the ground near the walls undisturbed.
If you’re noticing water in your basement for the first time this season, the answer could be found in last year’s landscaping. Any changes to a driveway, patio, or garden last year could be responsible for affecting water drainage around your property and letting water seep into your basement this year.
Make sure the ground is properly graded so that water flows away from the house. A five-degree slope away from your home along each side should suffice. When you’re standing six feet (1.83 m) away, the ground should be at least three inches (7.62 cm) lower to keep water draining properly.
If you’re worried about what April showers may bring, take a look at some of the common causes that let water seep into your basement. If you do spot any water this year, you know where to start.
But always bring the pros in when taking on major waterproofing projects.