How to Avoid Foundation Damage During Wet Parts of the Year

Depending on the specific location of your home, you may be more prone to foundation damage due to the amount of rain you receive. Heavy amounts of precipitation can leave your home more susceptible to damage during rainier seasons throughout the year.

Homeowners in Michigan may be surprised to learn that the driest month of the year is February with less than two inches of precipitation on average. Despite the cold and gloomy conditions, late winter is less a threat to a home’s foundation than the middle of summer. The climate in a city like Detroit can mean over three and a half inches of rain in the month of June alone.

You Can Avoid Big Repair Bills with The Right Precautions

The good news is that there are some precautions you can take in order to avoid damage from moisture even in the wettest conditions. The first step to avoiding damage from heavy precipitation is creating a drainage system that directs water away from your foundation.

When you spot water puddling in areas around your home, especially when the rest of the property has dried out, it is most likely a sign that you need to consider having drainage installed. The key to effective drainage is a good slope, which could require some additional grading of your property.

A Foundation Repair Expert Will Provide the Best Insight

Another option for water management is the installation of a French drain. Rather than sloping the grade to route excess water, a French drain carries water through a perforated pipe buried under a layer of gravel. An experienced foundation repair company can discern if a French drain is required in order to provide adequate drainage for your property.

Another helpful addition for saving your foundation is installing gutters around the home. Many houses have gutters on the front and rear so that homeowners do not get soaked when entering or exiting the home during a rain shower. However, gutters installed around the entire perimeter of the roof will keep falling water from eroding the soil around the home’s foundation.

While foundation repair companies do not install gutters, you can know if the excess water is due to roof runoff or from another source by having a foundation repair expert like those at Tom’s Basement Waterproofing inspect your property. Call Tom’s Basement Waterproofing at (586) 949-7826 or use our online contact form to request more information on protecting your foundation.