The season for potential water in your basement is now coming to a basement near you. Are you ready? Monitoring your home is discussed below may prevent water damage.
- It should be understood that it is impossible to predict the severity or frequency of moisture penetration to a home. Almost all basements exhibit signs of moisture penetration and virtually all basements can indeed leak at some point in time. Further monitoring of the foundation will be required to determine what improvements, if any, will be required. Basement leakage rarely affects the structural integrity of a home.
Flooding potential
- The vast majority of basement leakage problems are the result of insufficient control of storm water at the surface. The ground around the house should be sloped to encourage water to flow away from the foundations. Gutters and downspouts should act to collect roof water and drain the water at least five (5) feet from the foundation or into a functional storm sewer. Downspouts that are clogged or broken below grade level, or that discharge too close to the foundation are the most common source of basement leakage.
- In the event that basement leakage problems are experienced, lot and roof drainage improvements should be undertaken as a first step. Please beware of contractors who recommend expensive solutions. Excavation, damp-proofing and/or the installation of drainage tiles should be a last resort. In some cases, however, it is necessary. Your plans for using the basement may also influence the approach taken to curing any dampness that is experienced.
Annual Precipitation
Wet Basement Causes
-Annually the province receives about 355 millimeter of rain from May to October. On a typical 40 x 110 foot lot, this will produce 144,800 liters of water.
– 6 millimeter of rain on the 40 x 110 foot lot would produce 2,596 liters of water.
– The 355 millimeters of rain on a roof of a 2000 square foot house would produce more than 167,200 liters of water, which must be directed away from the foundation of the home.
– The 6 millimeters of rain on the same roof would produce 1,200 liters of water that must be directed away from the foundation of the home.
With these things in mind, I hope your basement stays dry, if you have experienced water damage please call (403) 831-0134.
