Remodeling: Preventing a Wet Basement

So you have decided to add additional living space to your current home by finishing the basement. This additional square footage will increase the value of your home along with creating a new space for your family to spend time together. But wait, there is the fear that finishing a space that is below grade can get wet and ruin your investment. What do you do? What do you need to know?

First, gutters should be cleaned and maintained. Gutters should be sloped a minimum of 1 inch for every forty feet of vertical run. Downspouts should extend either well beyond the area of influence around your foundation or intergraded into an underground network that collects storm runoff and sends it to a daylight area downhill from the structure.

Next, the soil needs to be re-graded around the foundation. If water pools against your foundation it’s only a matter of time before it finds its way into the house. In order to create positive drainage, it is important to remove any mulch or debris from the surface before you move the soil. You can reuse the mulch on the new area but it’s important not to mix it with the soil. A mixture of soil, mulch, and debris can actually make your drainage problems worse. The soil should slope 6” over 10’ away from the foundation.