Your Home's Rainwater Management System

There are three critical elements to a home’s rainwater management system; eavestroughs, downspouts and grading around the home.

Eavestroughs and downspouts are a home’s first defence against water intrusion and critical to a dry and healthy basement. Their purpose is to collect rainwater from the roof and direct it away from your home’s foundation.

Eavestroughs:

Eavestroughs, also known as “gutters”, should be cleaned out twice a year; in the early spring and again in the late fall. Also be certain to check that the seals connecting at the joints are not leaking.

Neglecting to clean eaves regularly may have serious consequences. A build up of debris in eaves may result in water penetrating into your roof, attic and even in your home’s walls; potentially damaging the roof structure, ceiling, drywall, floors, insulation and causing mould growth. Over time, weighted eavestroughs may pull away from a home, requiring repair or even replacement, all the while allowing rainwater to collect near the foundation.

Downspouts:

Check that water is freely exiting from all downspouts as clogs may result in water sitting in and overflowing from the eave troughs. Ideally, downspouts should at minimum, direct water 3 to 4 feet away from your home’s foundation.

When downspouts do not direct the run-off water from your roof properly, there is a greater chance that this water will seep in through the foundation. Good drainage in not only important to maintaining a dry basement but also, this excess water many damage landscaping and rot wood decks.

Grading:

Proper grading around your home’s foundation is a critical element to your home’s rainwater system. It’s recommended that you have a minimum 5 degrees of slope from where the ground meets your home’s foundation; six feet away from the foundation, the ground should be at least 3 inches lower.

Over time the grading around a home can change, so it is important to inspect the grading around your home on a yearly basis.

If you are experiencing water penetration in your home and would like a free inspection and estimate for repair, we would be pleased if you considered Advanced Basement Systems. 1-800-638-7048