Have things in your yard been a bit soggy lately? Bad drainage in your property can lead to damaged landscaping, causing the curb appeal of your home to plummet and vegetation to be destroyed. Even worse, the structural integrity of your building can become threatened by bad yard drainage systems, since water damage can invade your home and wreak havoc on your foundation. Fortunately you can prevent things from getting out of hand by recognizing and addressing improper drainage through home inspections and yard drainage repair. Luckily there are plenty of warning signs to look out for before the problem gets critical.
Exterior signs of drainage system failure
When it comes to keeping your home protected and your property value firmly intact, it’s critical to inspect your property for signs of water damage. There are a number of telltale signs of bad drainage that you can spot outside of your home. Puddles and yard erosion present clear indicators that the yard drainage is amiss. Inspecting your yard following a heavy rain will allow you to see if there are faults in the drainage system, causing water to pool or puddle. It’s also important to check the height of the soil against the foundation to ensure that it isn’t being eroded and carried away due to the drainage system removing water too quickly during storms. If the topsoil is moving every time it rains, then there is a strong chance that your yard has a bad drainage system that needs repairs.
An important area that homeowners should inspect to see if there is bad drainage is the gutters. Clogged gutters provide an easy to spot sign that something is amiss with your drainage system. When gutters become clogged, water is forced to redirect, which could lead to ruined paint and sliding. To avoid these issues, clean your gutters regularly and check to see if they appear to be draining correctly during heavy downpour, as clogged gutters are easily visible. And of course, always make sure that your gutters are carrying water away from the home and not into the foundation. While you can examine gutters during rainfall, you can also check for water pooling underneath the downspouts and gutters after a heavy storm.
Interior signs of drainage system failure
During and after periods of heavy rainfall is often the best time to examine your home for internal signs of drainage failure. There are several key things to check inside your home to make sure your drainage system is operating correctly. Homeowners should be on the lookout for signs of efflorescence, mildew, warped wood, bowing floors, and wet crawl spaces. Efflorescence is a crusty salt deposit of white or grey color that becomes visible on the walls of the foundation when water evaporates. Mildew, which can often be detected by its musty odor, can cause roofing issues. Any musty, strong, or unusual odors should always be inspected, as they can be a sign of mildew, mold, fungus, or bacteria. Additionally, warped wood, bowing floors, and wet crawl spaces all present clear indicators that moisture is entering the home when it shouldn’t be. Soggy, wet, and rotting areas all need to be addressed as soon as possible.
A very obvious sign that yard drainage repair is needed is water infiltration into the home. The three main ways that water finds itself entering a home is through foundation cracks, under the floorboards, or over the foundation. Foundation crack leakage is a serious issue that will require professional evaluation to determine the extent of the damage to see if foundation repair is needed. Water entering the home through the floors likely means there is a high water table under the home, which can be corrected through interior drainage installation and sump pumps. If water is seeping into the foundation with no cracks visible, then it’s likely that there are overflowing gutters or high grading that need to be fixed.
Related: Yard Drainage Installation for California Homeowners
Solutions for improper yard drainage
In order to preserve the integrity of your yard, wood framing, and foundation, it’s crucial to address any drainage problems as soon as you notice the first warning signs. Your yard drainage repair will ultimately depend on the problem at hand, as there are a variety of different drainage solutions that can resolve your issues depending on what they may be.
The nature of the drainage issues, the type of soil on your property, and the slope of the land the home is on all are factors to consider when selecting the right drainage system.
A professional contractor will be able to evaluate your home and determine the best solution for your unique issue in order to protect both your yard and your structure.
There are a variety of drainage solutions to choose from, including French drains, sloped grading, surface drains, terracing, trench drains, sump pumps, rounded grates, pop-up emitters, atrium grate, flo-wells, and channel drains. French drains tend to be one of the most requested and reliable drainage solutions, as they are able to redirect the flow of large amounts of water away from the home. French drains are best suited for sloped and hillside homes, while many also choose to install trench drains in their backyards to correct conglomerating water runoff. Additionally, sump pumps are highly beneficial drainage solutions installed under a crawl space. Their purpose is to rapidly pump water away from the home, making them ideal for low-level houses during major storms and floods.
Related: What is a French Drain
Don’t allow for water to invade your home or ruin your landscape.
Protect both your assets and your curb appeal by correcting any drainage system failures before they lead to more extensive problems.
Here at California Foundation Works, we specialize in yard drainage repair no matter the extent of the problem. Our team of experienced contractors is able to install or repair any yard drainage system that your home requires.
Call today to book your free home inspection. Let’s get started discussing your drainage options!
