During rainy seasons, homeowners become concerned about leaky roofs, flooded yards, or wet patios. However, hard rains with a lack of drainage can lead to more serious consequences that often get overlooked until it’s too late—namely, foundation issues. After a rainy season with poor drainage, cracks can appear in a foundation, potentially leading to costly damage.
Not every crack in a foundation means major issues, but small problems can turn into bigger ones if they aren’t addressed. If you are in the middle of a rainy season, keep an eye on existing cracks. If it seems they are getting worse, have them inspected by a foundation repair professional.
Even if there is no evidence of issues right now, you can take steps to protect your home’s foundation by checking gutters and ground drainage before the rainy period begins. It is important to have a properly working gutter system on your roof and a good slope on your property with French drains to move water away from your house and its foundation.
Why Keep Gutters Working?
One of the best ways to prevent foundation damage during heavy rain is to keep gutters working properly. It’s the simplest way of directing water away from your home.
Cleaning gutters regularly helps them work effectively when it rains. Gutters clogged with debris cannot do their job. If it isn’t possible for you to clean them yourself, either have a professional do it for you or install gutter guards that prevent debris from entering gutters in the first place.
There are four ways properly working gutters will protect your home during the rainy season.
1. Prevent Foundation Damage
An effective gutter system on the top of your house is the most important defense for the foundation below. Gutters catch water as it rolls off your roof and moves it away through a downspout. An uncluttered downspout safely deposits the water a good distance from the home or into a more extensive drainage system, preventing any possible water buildup around the foundation.
2. Avoid Water Infiltration
Water follows the path of least resistance, and moisture can find even the smallest crack in your concrete foundation and infiltrate it. If the dirt underneath your house becomes saturated with water, it can put undue pressure on the foundation. Gutters keep this from happening by properly moving rain away from the home.
3. Protection from Hydrocompaction
If the ground around your home gets too wet, any amount of clay in the earth expands, causing small silt particles to wash away. This leaves spaces in the ground where there wasn’t space before. This is known as hydrocompaction, and it weakens the soil under a home’s foundation. Effective rain gutters keep this from happening.
4. Stop Mold and Pests
Gutters that are working properly keep pools of water from developing around the home. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes, wood-burrowing pests, fungi, and all kinds of mold. By moving water away from the roof and the rest of your house, gutters protect you and your family from unwanted pests as well as protecting its foundation.
Why Install French Drains and Ground Drainage Systems?
Ground drainage systems including French drains help Oklahoma homeowners effectively move water away from their house’s foundation. Water runs through a gravel-filled trench into a perforated pipe at the bottom of the trench, eventually draining the water a safe distance from the home.
There are three key ways French drains help preserve your home:
1. Stop Damage to a Home’s Lower Level, Crawl Space and/or Basement
If floors are damp or walls smell musty in your ground floor rooms, crawl space, or basement, you need a French drain as soon as possible. French drains will prevent this moisture from affecting the lower levels of your home, including its foundation.
2. Protect Outdoor Patio Damage
Excess water that accumulates around a patio during a rainy season can create problems. A French drain can divert water before it reaches the patio, eliminating standing water that can attract pesky mosquitoes or cause concrete to deteriorate.
3. Prevent Ponding Water
Ponding water around your house can seep below your foundation and make it unstable. It can also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. A French drain can prevent any water from standing near your home. A French drain installed by professionals ensures unwanted water is redirected to a safer location where it can’t harm your home or promote troublesome pests.
Call the Professionals for Trusted, Lasting Drainage Solutions
If you notice standing water around your home or cracks in your foundation, don’t get overwhelmed—get reliable solutions from Edens Structural. Our professionals can troubleshoot your issues, provide detailed answers, and help you protect your home during the rainy seasons. Let us help you have peace of mind about your home foundation with our long-lasting drainage solutions and repairs.
