Avoiding Water Damage Caused by Runoff

12/16/2016 (Permalink)

Whenever it rains on your home, runoff will occur. All homes are specifically designed to deal with this runoff so that it doesn’t negatively affect the home. If the water runoff from the roof is not properly handled, it can cause serious problems for the home such as putting into question the stability of the structure or causing water damage to the inside and outside of the home. These are some of the ways that water runoff is dealt with in homes.

Problems Caused by Runoff

The biggest problem that can be caused by water runoff is the structural integrity of the building. If a large amount of water collects near the building’s foundation, it can get absorbed into the soil and can put enough pressure on the foundation that it can cause it to break. Additionally, if a significant amount of water runs down the side of the building, it can wear away at the siding, walls, and the foundation.

Another problem that can occur from a large amount of runoff is that large sections of the landscaping can quickly erode. If this problem occurs, soil and plants can be stripped away and damage can be caused to adjacent aspects of the home such as driveways and sidewalks.

Gutters as a Defense

The first line of defense when it comes to water runoff from the roof are the gutters. Lining the entirety of the house, the sole purpose of the gutters is to collect the water that comes off the roof and direct it far away from the house so that it doesn’t cause any damage to the side of the house or the foundation. Due to the significant impact that gutters have on directing runoff away from the structure, properly maintaining your gutters are crucial to protecting your home from water damage. Gutters often collect leaves and other debris so regularly cleaning the gutters to ensure that there are no blockages is a simple maintenance task that will go a long way to avoiding water damage.

Landscape Drainage

The sole purpose of landscape drainage is to collect the water that comes out of the gutters and redirecting this excess water away so it doesn’t damage your landscape. A very common way of setting up landscape drainage is by using gravel and underground drain pipes. Gravel is strong enough that it can hold up the ground while featuring enough space to allow water to flow through it and into the pipes below. Once the water flows down into the drain pipes, it is directed to a drain field that is located far from the house.

Foundation Drainage

The purpose of a foundation drainage system is to protect your foundation if a large quantity of water accumulates near it. If installing a foundation drainage system is necessary, it will be set up right next to the foundation and will feature layers of gravel and drain pipe. Unlike landscape drainage systems, which are near the surface of the landscape, a foundation drainage system gets buried down at the bottom of the foundation walls. If large quantities of water accumulate around the foundation, the system will redirect as much water as possible away from the foundation to avoid any potential damage.

Foundation Waterproofing

A way to keep your foundation safe from any potential runoff that may direct water toward the foundation is through foundation waterproofing. If this is the right course of action for your home, the exterior of the foundation will be coated with a waterproofing membrane which will provide extra protection from water. The process of installing this waterproofing involves excavation next to the foundation which is done to ensure that all sides of the foundation are covered by the application. The membrane then forms a seamless waterproof barrier around the entirety of the foundation.

Runoff from the roof of a house has the potential to cause significant damage to the home if it is not properly dealt with. To avoid any of these potential problems from occurring, gutters direct water away from the home and drainage systems are often installed to protect landscaping and the building’s foundation from becoming damaged. If water damage does occur to your home, call on the professionals at SERVPRO to restore the home.