If you live in a flood zone, you need to take the necessary steps to prevent water damage to your home.
Flooding can cause severe structural damage to your property, but here are ways to prepare your home for inevitable, so it stands a chance.
1. Install Foundation Flood Vents
Foundation flood vents are designed to direct floodwater through your property, rather than allowing it to pool around. This gives water a place to go, which can reduce structural damage and prevent water damage.
For instance, a home without foundation flood vents can experience significant damage because water pools under the home with no place to go, so air pressure builds up and causes it to burst through the foundation. A foundation flood vent allows that water to escape.
Sump pumps are also frequently used to help pump water out of your basement in the most extreme cases of flooding.
2. Protect the Exterior
If mulch or dirt presses up against your home’s siding, it could cause significant damage. Wet mulch can rot away at your home’s siding, which can lead to all types of leaks and flooding issues.
Make sure that you have a protective barrier between these sections of your home, and that the area stays dry, especially after a rainstorm.
3. Waterproof Your Basement
Expect a high chance of flooding and long-term problems if you have a basement, and the structural integrity of your basement may be at risk if it isn’t well maintained.
Basement waterproofing, especially around your foundation, can help prevent water damage. The first step in keeping your basement dry is to make sure there is proper drainage in your yard so rainwater doesn’t pool next to your house foundation.
4. Move Downspouts and Problem Areas
Make sure downspouts and other sources of flowing water around your home are kept away from sensitive areas.
You want to aim your downspouts so they flow into a lower elevation. This prevents water from backing up around your house while creating a natural path for rainwater.
Interesting in making your home as flood-proof as can be? Contact a licensed professional at your earliest convenience.
