During the early spring, we sometimes encounter these events however, if the ground is still frozen then it has limited capacity to absorb some of this water. When the ground freezes it can sometimes create a gap between the earth and the foundation allowing even easier access for the water to overwhelm your weeping tile. The frozen ground, the gap between the earth and the foundation and an abundance of water all create a perfect recipe to encourage water to infiltrate your basement.
On newer homes, builders have started using a waterproof membrane that surrounds the foundation, however, whether your home is newer or older, there are still measures you can take to minimize the potential of water coming into your basement. Preventing water issues in your basement is often much more affordable that waiting until after a disaster has struck.
Properly functioning eavestrough with downspouts that direct water at least six feet away from your foundation as well as improving your home’s grading will resolve many of the most common water issues. In order to improve your home’s grading all you need to do is create a slope of dirt that runs away from your foundation, like a hill, to direct water away from your home.
A professional landscaper can offer some innovative design ideas to improve the esthetic of your grading such as landscape fabrics and river stones. This will not solve every basement water issue but can often go a long way in preventing water from infiltrating your basement.