Property Drainage

Making sure that your property is sloped to allow proper drainage can mean the difference between a trouble-free rainy season and a flooded basement a few times a year.  Unwanted moisture intrusion—even at a level not serious enough to cause interior flooding—can create insidious problems that will be difficult to completely eliminate, such as weakened structural elements, mold growth, and other damage and health hazards.

Most problems with moisture in basements and crawlspaces are caused by poor site drainage. The ground should slope away from window wells, exterior basement stairs, and other means of egress. The bottom of each of these areas should be sloped to a drain. Each drain should have piping that connects it to a storm water drainage system (if there is one) or that drains to either a discharge at a lower grade or into a sump pit that collects and discharges the water away from the building.

Rain:  During the next heavy rainstorm without lightning, grab an umbrella and go outside. Walk around your house and look around at the roof and property. A rainstorm is the perfect time to see how the roof, downspouts and grading are performing. Observe the drainage patterns of your entire property, as well as the property of your neighbor. The ground around your house should slope away from all sides. Downspouts, surface gutters and drains should be directing water away from the foundation.

One important maintenance task is to monitor and maintain the drains and piping. Drains and piping should be open and clear of leaves, earth and debris. A garden hose can be used to check water flow, although its discharge cannot approximate storm conditions.

House on a Hillside:  Where a building is situated on a hillside, it is more difficult to slope the ground away from the building on all sides. On the high-ground side of the building, the slope of the ground toward the building could be interrupted by a surface drainage system that collects and disposes of rainwater runoff. Swales can be used to direct surface water away from the foundation. There are two general types of surface drainage systems: an open system, consisting of a swale (often referred to as a ditch), sometimes with a culvert at its end to collect and channel water away; and a closed system, consisting of gutters with catch basins.

Core 360 Home Inspections provides inspection services to Northern & Central New Jersey. If you’re buying or selling a home, contact us to request an appointment.

Copyright Notice

© 2023 Core 360 Home Inspection LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

The content of this blog post is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional inspection advice, diagnosis, or services. We always recommend a licensed professional contractor to install, repair, evaluate and etc. 

More To Explore

Essential Homeowner Toolkit 15 Must-Have Tools Blog
Home Maintenance

Essential Homeowner Toolkit: 15 Must-Have Tools

Discover the top 15 essential tools that every homeowner should have in their toolkit. From basic repair to routine maintenance, be prepared for every household task

10 Simple Ways to Boost Your Home's Energy Efficiency C360 Blog
Home Maintenance

10 Simple Ways to Boost Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Discover actionable tips to transform your home into an energy-efficient haven. From the benefits of tankless water heaters to the advantages of efficient lighting and sustainable cooking methods, dive into best practices that not only reduce energy costs but also pave the way for a sustainable future. Every change, no matter how small, contributes to a greener world.

You cannot copy content of this page