What Homeowners Need to Know about Spring Rainfall and Home Foundations

One way to protect a property from water damage is to install a drainage system.

Spring is here! The weather is warming, the flowers are blooming, and there’s daylight saving time. However, remember that with the transition from cooler to warmer temperatures, while there may be blue skies one day, torrential rainfall could be next.

Rainfall worries

Heavy rainfall or downpour combined with poor home drainage is a bad combination and leads to foundation damage and even basement flooding. Between rainy and dry weather, the soil expands and contracts. When it rains, the ground underneath a home soaks up the water, and the excess water creates pressure, which can cause cracks in the foundation, including the walls and floors, bowed walls, and foundation wall settling.

In between heavy spring showers, the soil around a home dries out and forms gaps, triggering the home’s foundation to sink. Look out for issues like cracks in the windows or doors, drywall, jammed windows or doors, and water in crawl spaces and basements. Even minor cracks can be easy entry points for water.

Drainage systems

One way to protect a property from water damage is to install a drainage system. French drains are extraordinarily beneficial and efficiently disperse water before it collects around a building’s foundation. Other options are drain tiles and sump pumps. It’s crucial to check a sump pump regularly to ensure it’s functional.

Gutters are also a lifesaver in directing rain to runoff away from the building’s foundation. Check for leaks or cracks, allowing water to exit the pipe and flood around the exterior. Clean and clear out the gutters regularly to ensure easy water flow.

Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake provide foundation, basement, and crawlspace installation and repair for the greater Baltimore area homeowners.