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Downspout
A downspout with just an elbow attached is asking for trouble.
Downspouts should be extended, see photo, and discharged at least 6 ft. (1.8 m) away from the foundation walls. |
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There can be several reasons why a basement is damp or wet but in many cases it is caused by inadequate drainage around the house. Improved drainage will increase your chances of keeping the basement dry. Listed below are seven steps that can be taken to improve exterior drainage. It may be a good idea to hire a landscape contractor to do the heavy work.
Fill in depressions close to the house.
Grade the property away from foundation walls. A slope of 1" per foot for 10 feet would be ideal (25 mm per 300 mm for 3 m).
Swale or drainpipe can be installed if there is the possibility of flooding your neighbour's property.
Flower beds trap water. Keep flower beds to a minimum and away from the foundation walls.
Scrubs and trees trap water and retain moisture for a long time and should not be planted too close to the house. Roots may dislodge weeping tiles and damage waterproofing. At one of my home inspections I found a sump pump where the sump (or holding tank) was filled with roots from shrubbery. The roots were several feet long and had grown through the weeping tiles and into the sump, filling it almost completely and clogging the pump.
Downspouts should be extended and discharged at least 6 ft. (1.8 m) away from the foundation walls.
Walks, driveway and patios should be sloped away from the house. Install a sealant where they meet the house. In some cases installing a curb may improve drainage.
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A swale is a shallow depression in the
ground to form a channel for water drainage.
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