1. Pitch all grades away from a home. The ground adjacent to the foundation should be sloped away from a building at a slope not less that 1 inch per 1 foot of grade for a distance of not less than 8 feet. Note: If the house has a hill side directed to the house even this above recommendation could be defeated. In some cases a grade and below grade drain needs to be installed to direct water away from the ground adjacent to a foundation. An engineer sometimes needs to design such a drain. I have seen a case where a curtain drain was needed and the cost was almost $20,000.
2. Drain water from gutters into dry wells placed at least 20 feet from a building. Again, this relates to soil conditions, general pitch of the surrounding grade, house elevation as the house sits near coastal flood plain areas or wet land areas. High water tables can be located 3-4 inches below a basement slab year round in some homes. Many people drain their sump pumps into town or city sewers which is illegal in most areas.
3. Keep grass clippings away from the perimeter of the home. Grass clippings can raise the grade around a house over time and create low moat areas in the perimeter gardens that can hold water. In most cases the water will travel down into the earth and then find small cracks and openings in the foundation and end up in the basement.
To sum it up: A basement is a hole in the ground. Do not make it easy for water to fill the hole.
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If you would like the chance to work with me or one of my fellow real estate investor coaches and our advanced training programs, give us a call anytime to see if Dean's Real Estate Success Academy and our customized curriculum is a fit for you. Call us at 1-877-219-1474 ext. 125
1. Pitch all grades away from a home. The ground adjacent to the foundation should be sloped away from a building at a slope not less that 1 inch per 1 foot of grade for a distance of not less than 8 feet. Note: If the house has a hill side directed to the house even this above recommendation could be defeated. In some cases a grade and below grade drain needs to be installed to direct water away from the ground adjacent to a foundation. An engineer sometimes needs to design such a drain. I have seen a case where a curtain drain was needed and the cost was almost $20,000.
2. Drain water from gutters into dry wells placed at least 20 feet from a building. Again, this relates to soil conditions, general pitch of the surrounding grade, house elevation as the house sits near coastal flood plain areas or wet land areas. High water tables can be located 3-4 inches below a basement slab year round in some homes. Many people drain their sump pumps into town or city sewers which is illegal in most areas.
3. Keep grass clippings away from the perimeter of the home. Grass clippings can raise the grade around a house over time and create low moat areas in the perimeter gardens that can hold water. In most cases the water will travel down into the earth and then find small cracks and openings in the foundation and end up in the basement.
To sum it up: A basement is a hole in the ground. Do not make it easy for water to fill the hole.
If you would like the chance to work with me or one of my fellow real estate investor coaches and our advanced training programs, give us a call anytime to see if Dean's Real Estate Success Academy and our customized curriculum is a fit for you. Call us at 1-877-219-1474 ext. 125