To keep your basement dry, the first thing you need to do is control rain water runoff. The most common source of rain water is the water which comes from our roofs. This water can come in very large volumes and create a massive flow of water around your foundation. A two inch Spring rain is equal to almost 2,000 gallons of water from a 30 X 50 residential roof. If this 2,000 gallons of water is not directed away from your foundation, it can cause cracking and flooding inside the home.Directing your downspouts directly into a drain pipe is a fairly common and simple solution to controlling rain water runoff. This is as simple as digging a trench and laying a solid drain pipe inside this trench and directing it at least 10’ away from the foundation. The outlet can be a simple emitter, drain grate or if adequate slope is available, daylighting works. This type of system is very common and with proper pitch and sizing it can be very efficient. The downsides to a direct connection system are clogging or freezing.

Another very effective method of controlling downspout discharge is the use of a catch basin. The catch basin is placed directly below the downspout outlet and serves as a collection point which transfers the water to a solid drain pipe and then to an emitter or grate. The distinct advantage of the catch basin is the grate, which covers the top of the unit. This grating serves as a filter to prevent debris from clogging your underground pipe. Simply wiping off the grate periodically will keep the system working efficiently.

The other benefit of a catch basin is its ability to collect pooling surface water. If your soil is not adequately sloped away from the foundation, the catch basin can collect some of this surface water and drain it away just as it does with the rain water from the roof.

Catch basins come in a variety of sizes and outlet configuration which should be taken into consideration when designing your system. Basin selection will be a function of anticipated water volume, piping size and depth and water source layout. This is best done by a water management expert or landscape architect / engineer. Next is the fun part - grate selection. Catch basin grate selection is very broad to the point that you can pick color, style and material based on the aesthetics and volume required. Plastic, green and black being the most common, is the most economical. Brass, copper or chrome would be a more personal statement that can add to the overall landscape design, but more expensive.

Whichever method you choose, direct connection to a solid drain pipe or the catch basin design, the key is to collect storm water runoff and direct it away from the foundation. Remember, the goal is to protect your home from flooding and foundation damage.

On May12th, 2010 Earth Contact Products announced that they received a Product Evaluation Report for their patented steel piering system. Evaluation report #PER-09040 was approved and published by PEI after a thorough testing and analysis procedure.

Laboratory testing by the accredited engineering testing lab began in the fall of 2009 and continued until early 2010. The highly regarded Product Evaluation Report also required a complete manufacturing facility inspection along with quality control review and verification. Robotic welding procedures and a technologically advanced facility was credited with much of the quality control approval.

Earth Contact Products (ECP) manufactures a complete lineup of foundation repair and helical anchors for the residential and commercial construction industry. Their steel push piers have become the industry standard for underpinning systems across the country. ECP’s nationwide approved contractor network is trained and support by the manufacturer with product and engineering support.

Groundwater management is essential not only in keeping your basement or crawl space dry, but also in avoiding damage to the foundation. Below grade structures (basements crawl space, and slab on grade foundations) are designed to resist a combination of both hydrostatic and soil pressures. The terms soil pressure (the pressures exerted upon a wall by surrounding soils) and hydrostatic pressure (pressure that is exerted by water due to its weight) for the purpose of this article are used to describe how these pressures affect the foundation of your home.

Most homeowners often do not consider foundation problems, and basement or crawl space seepage as avoidable with routine maintenance; however a great number of foundation repairs and basement waterproofing problems can be prevented by handling rainwater and surface drainage properly. Improper groundwater drainage can result in pooling water around the exterior foundation which leads to hydrostatic pressure on the foundation walls. Hydrostatic pressure can result in foundation damage, allowing foundation walls to crack, deflect inward, settle vertically, and allow water infiltration into the basement or crawl space of your home. Groundwater can enter your home in numerous ways. Common examples of water penetrations are foundation wall and slab floor cracks, tie rods, or pipe penetrations.

Groundwater management begins with an assessment of the existing site conditions. As the homeowner you have two fairly broad choices for site condition assessment. You can perform routine maintenance yourself to alleviate potential foundation damage, and control basement seepage, or seek professional advice from a contractor specializing in foundation repair and groundwater control. In the event that foundation damage is present the best course of action is a professional evaluation of both the foundation, and the site conditions contributing to the foundation damage.