How to move water away from your house.
Ah... the North West. For all the beauty of our area we need water. When all goes well with the weather we get plenty of it. Good for trees, but problematic for home owners.
In my gutter post I mention some of the things to look for to keep your gutters maintained. However, there are times when the water recovered and directed properly away from the foundation is not enough.
If your house sits downhill on any side of the property, that hill forms a negative slope. Negative slopes pull water toward the house and increase the hydro-static pressure toward the house or crawlspace. This pressure can create numerous problems that is covered in a foundation and basement blog post.
If your house is unable to push water away from foundation efficiently due to a hill, dense soil, or water volume, there are strategies to mitigate the water pressure. The ideal solution is to create a slope away from your house to allow the water to move away from the home.
French drains are also used to stage water absorption away from the structure. In essence, a gutter downspout is connected to perforated drain line buried in a trench and covered with gravel. If installed properly, it can help move water away from a foundation. Another option is the creation of a dry well.
During the installation of a dry well, a buried pipe system connects to your gutter's downspout and moves water into an open and perforated container some distance from the structure. The idea is to move water to this well where it will be absorbed into the soil without affecting the house.
Drains can be installed at low points in front of garages or basement entrances to direct the water into drainage systems.
A combination of techniques can be employed to deal with basement windows or doors that are below ground level and receive excess water due to negative slope toward the house. Strategies to move water away from your house are important in maintaining your home's lifespan.
