7 Landscaping Tips To Prevent Basement Water Damage And Flooding

Residents in the U.S. have seen some unusual weather patterns in the last two months. From the 340 tornadoes stretching across the country’s midsection to snow and violent thunderstorms, they’re pretty good indicators that it’s time to do a bit of landscaping before Mother Nature heads our way. Here are seven landscaping tips to prevent basement water damage and flooding.

Proper Landscaping

The perimeter of your home is more than just about the lawn, trees, plants, and garden being neat and orderly. Rainfall can make the perimeter of your property hazardous when too much of it absorbs into the soil faster than your gutters can get it away from your home. An abundance of stormwater will eventually begin to infiltrate the basement through porous building material.

  1. Clean Your Gutters

Before performing any lawn landscaping, start first by checking your gutters to remove any leaves and debris that is permitting a free flow of rainwater away from the home.

  1. Trim Your Trees

Getting rid of any tree limbs hanging near a home will ensure the gutters are the only thing directly rainwater flow. It will also ensure your roof is protected from decaying limb overhang. Small rodents won’t have a way to gain access to your rooftop either.

  1. Grade The Ground Around Your House

Grading the ground around your home helps to circumvent rainwater. Creating a six-inch slope to about ten feet of the soil around the foundation will allow for proper drainage. It will also significantly reduce the amount of moisture that builds up near the foundation.

  • Insert the wooden stakes five feet apart around the foundation.
  • Use twine to rigidly connect each stake.
  • Add soil (or remove it) for the desired slope.
  • Use the tamping tool to pack the soil.
  1. Add Mulch

On top of the new grade, you can add mulch to increase the pressure on the soil. This step will ensure the newly planted ground does not get washed away and will enable rainwater to travel easier away from the house and prevent water from flooding the basement.

  1. Plant A Garden Or Flower Bed

Another way to elevate your landscape and prevent water from flooding your basement is to add a plant garden or flower bed to the soil. It will help stop soil erosion and help to absorb the moisture. Alternatively, you can also plant grass to soak up all the extra water.

  1. Collect Rainwater

Now that you have a garden or flower bed, you will need to water it regularly. Why not collect rainwater to water your plants and become more eco-friendly? Not only will you have an abundance of rain, but you can water your plants without any harsh chemicals.

  1. Add Drainage Near Your Driveway

A paved driveway often is responsible for flooding because of how rainwater flows quicker on asphalt than other surfaces, so install a drainage system to run beside it.

The water damage restoration specialists at Restore Pro are always on call for water backup or flood emergencies. Just call 1-800-847-0114 or visit https://www.facebook.com/RestorePro911/.