Waterproofing Your Home In Preparation For The Spring Thaw
With the spring thaw right around the corner, it's time for you to start thinking about protecting your home against the influx of moisture it will face when snow and ice begin to melt. Water has the potential to wreak havoc on the integrity of your home, leaving you with structural damage that can be costly to repair.
Invest a weekend in completing targeted home maintenance activities that will ensure your home remains waterproof this spring.
Start by checking your rain gutters.
The first line of defense when it comes to managing the flow of water near your home is ensuring your rain gutters are in good working condition. As snow and ice melt on your roof's surface, the resulting water will be directed into rain gutters, through downspouts, and safely away from your home.
Check to ensure that winter hasn't left your rain gutters compromised due to rust or debris. Water that has frozen inside your rain gutters during the winter could have altered the structure of the gutters themselves, and these damaged sections should be replaced before the spring thaw hits.
Verify the function of your sump pump.
Once you know that your home's rain gutters are working properly, you should continue waterproofing your home by checking the function of your sump pump. The sump pump plays a critical role in preventing flooding inside your home by eliminating pooling water. A sump pump that has fallen into disrepair won't be capable of handling the influx of water associated with the spring thaw.
You might find pooling water in your basement, cracks in your home's foundation, or other serious problems caused by water damage. Have a waterproofing professional give your sump pump a thorough tune-up in preparation for spring.
Adjust the grade of your landscaping.
Another simple thing that you can do to ensure your home remains waterproof is adjust the grade of your landscape. You want your yard to gently slope away from your home's foundation to help move water safely away from your home.
During the winter months, the soil near your home's foundation walls can erode. This alters the grade of your property and could leave your home susceptible to serious water damage. A waterproofing professional will be able to assess the grade of your property and determine if you need to bring in additional soil to achieve a safe grade before the spring thaw hits your area.
