Problems Caused by Poor Drainage

Problems Caused by Poor Drainage Outside Your Home

Poor drainage is a bigger problem for your home than you may think. In fact, it is a major cause of structural damage to homes throughout the Triangle Area. But you can avoid this type of structural damage through a well-designed exterior drainage system. Below, we explore problems caused by water and how you can protect your Raleigh area home.

Effects of Poor Drainage

Poor drainage outside can cause a multitude of health, financial and safety problems in and around your home. Many of these issues occur because of the absence of gutters. Other causes include sloping landscapes and excess soil moisture.

Problems caused by poor drainage around your home include:

• Structural foundation damage and loss of foundation stability
• Insect infestation
• Mold and allergens
• Termite infestation
• Premature aging and discoloration of exterior brick and concrete
• Soil erosion and landscaping damage
• Interior and exterior wall cracks
• Sticking doors and windows

When your home does not have an adequate solution for outdoor water management, you face the expense of structural damage and the other issues listed above. Your home also loses value. But you can overcome the effects and problems of poor drainage through implementation of a proper water management system. Such a system fixes poor drainage and prevents foundation damage and the other concerns related to water and excess moisture.

Four Types of Exterior Drainage Systems

There are four primary types of exterior drainage systems. These include:

French Drains
French drains are the most widely used drainage systems. These drains direct water through channels to a drainage ditch, other areas of the property, a dry well or the street for routing to the sewer system. The water first flows into a trench filled with gravel. It is then directed into a perforated pipe that carries it away from your home.

Footing Drain
Also called a foundation drain, a footing drain keeps water out of your home through use of a perforated pipe installed around the foundation. Installation of this type of water management system starts with a trench dug around the home’s perimeter. Then the drain is installed with the concrete footing and walls that form the foundation. Waterproofing methods are also used on the foundation’s exterior to prevent moisture intrusion.

Gutters
The role of gutters does not end with directing water away from your home’s roof. Gutters must also adequately divert water away from the home’s foundation and walls. Poor drainage from gutters can quickly cause expensive damage. But through use of properly installed gutters and downspouts, this type of water management system directs runoff to a catch basin or storm sewer.

Grading Drainage
A sloped lawn can cause many problems because of poor drainage. But reworking the grading around your home can direct water into a storm sewer. Drainage and waterproofing professionals assess the gradient need and make changes according to the building code, of course.

Call the Raleigh Drainage & Waterproofing Pros to Fix Your Poor Drainage Problems

As you can see, poor drainage is both costly and damaging. But these water management problems are easily corrected through a logical drainage system. The types listed above are the common methods used for homes with and without basements. Because these methods involve more than just installing pipes or digging trenches, it is important to work with reputable contractors. Using a search engine such as Google.com can be a reliable resource for searching for a tried and trusted contractor. In the Raleigh-Durham area, your local expert is Drainage & Waterproofing Solutions, LLC. Call the pros at Drainage & Waterproofing Solutions at (919) 508-7503 for a consultation.