Water Damage & Flooded Basement Restoration Services

Preventing Water Damage Through Proper Landscaping

By the RestorationSOS Educational Staff

Water damage is going to affect most every home at some point, and while homeowners can spend great amounts of money trying to waterproof their property, all too often there is one significant element that is overlooked, one that can bring about much damage and plenty of headaches. That element is the landscaping surrounding your home.

Why Does Landscaping Help?

In the event of a severe storm or even prolonged rainfall, the ground can only absorb so much water. Once the ground has been saturated, any excess water is going to have to run somewhere. Since water prefers to flow downhill, anything that happens to lie in that general direction is going to get wet.

Prevention Tips You Can Do Yourself

With that in mind, you want to make sure that your landscaping is not going to do you any harm. Most homes are constructed with drainage in mind, but you should make sure that the landscaping slopes away from your home for a minimum of ten feet (preferably more). That excess water should flow away from your home, not toward it. Drainage ditches should be clear and free of any obstructions; likewise for drainage vents or pipes that service your home.

In the same respect, you should always inspect your gutters and downspouts, making sure they are in good working order and properly channel water down, out and away from your property. If they do not, buy the proper connections and reconfigure them so that they do. You’d be surprised at how much water damage could be averted by simply having fully functional gutters.

Also, keep trees and shrubs properly trimmed back from your home. Foliage that grows up against your home can cause water to drain from the tree or plant to run down the side of your house, causing wear and tear that will eventually turn into a serious leak. In addition, leaves can also fall and gather up, obstructing gutters, drains, or other water paths, resulting in unexpected flooding.

When to Call an Expert

Driveways and patios present their own brand of problem in that they cannot absorb any water at all. A driveway that slopes toward your home could present a problem. Consider installing channel drains around these areas to properly handle any water puddling or buildup that may occur. Channel drains are installed within the concrete itself, with access vents to catch the water before it presents a threat.

In some cases, grading your yard may be necessary to solve the problem. You might also want to consider installing retaining walls to keep excess water at bay.

Recommended Reading:
What to Keep and What to Discard: Outdoors
Preventing Water Damage Outdoors

Learn More about Preventing Water Damage with Proper Landscaping in this Video: