While winter is upon us in New England, many homeowners make the mistake of thinking they are clear from water penetration. However, winter (alongside spring) is a highly susceptible season for water damage in Massachusetts homes. Sure, flooding is not a top concern, but the snow will thaw and storms will come. That makes this the perfect time to protect your property.
At Global Basement Waterproofing, we take pride in offering our customers a variety of professional services to help keep your home protected. However, we also understand that efforts go beyond our services. In this article, we’re providing you with a few things you can do on your own to enhance your basement waterproofing efforts.
Homeowner Tasks
While installing a basement drain system is an excellent choice, homeowners can also do a few things outside the walls. For example, altering your landscape can drastically reduce the amount of water buildup around the foundation. Making sure the land around your house slants away from the foundation is another crucial component to keeping water from entering. Even though plants and shrubbery can be aesthetically pleasing, you should place them at a minimum distance of ten feet. Furthermore, you want to double-check that your ground spouts and gutters are not discharging water closer than five feet to your foundation.
Minor leaks are generally something a homeowner can repair on their own. By purchasing various waterproofing materials and sealers for your basement walls, small leaks are remedied. Large cracks or severe foundational concerns are best left to the professionals.
Professional Tasks
Although taking these steps can help avoid water damage to your Massachusetts home, there are also a few tasks that you should leave to the professionals. For instance, sump pump and basement drain system installation are additional steps that ensure ultimate protection. But are typically not a task for the inexperienced person.
Why consider these? Well, both solutions help to redirect water away from the home, improve ventilation, and create an overall safer environment for your family. Hand in hand with DIY, you can have peace of mind that your home is protected during the winter season!
Avoiding water damage to your Massachusetts home this winter is only a phone call away.
For more information on basement drain systems or sump pump installation, contact the experts at Global Basement Waterproofing. We are happy to schedule a consultation to discuss the options best suited for your home.