How to Prevent Erosion from Damaging Your Home’s Foundation

Gutter Draining Water Away From HouseSoil is one of the barriers that prevents water from intruding into your basement. If the soil is packed around the outside of your home, then this protects your foundation and basement from the elements.

Soil erosion can be a problem, though. Wind, snow and rain will remove soil from around the outside of your home and leave it exposed. Here are a few things that you can do to help prevent soil erosion.

Install Gutters and a Drainage System

Water hits your roof, then it cascades to the ground. If you do not have the means to divert water away from your house, then it will pool around the bottom of your foundation, draining the soil away and removing it from where it needs to be. The water may also find its way into your foundation and basement.

You can prevent problems by making sure that you have a proper drainage system, including gutters and downspouts. Remember that it’s very easy for gutters to become clogged with leaves and other debris, so make sure they are cleared on a regular basis as well.

Ensure Your Soil is Graded Correctly

It is important that soil around your home slopes downwards away from your foundation. If it doesn’t, then you are likely to encounter problems, both with erosion and water intrusion.

It does not have to slope much, but as long as there is a minimum of a three degree slope (up to six degrees is better) for the first ten feet of ground, then you should be okay.

Get Planting!

Nature is your friend when it comes to preventing soil erosion. Plants such as small shrubs positioned around your foundation will create a labyrinth of roots beneath them. These roots will bind the soil together so that the soil stays where it should be – close to your foundation. When it rains, snows or the wind picks up, the roots will help prevent the elements from removing the soil from around your home.

Plants are not only an inexpensive purchase, they also look great and will add to the aesthetic appeal of your home.

If you are having issues with your foundation or basement, then please contact us here at Foundation Solutions 360. We can be the solution to all your foundation repair and basement waterproofing problems! Contact us at (855) 532-5360, or use our online contact form.