Wet – or even flooded – basements are more than just a headache for homeowners.
Beyond expensive repairs, a wet basement can be an early sign of serious structural problems. The first impulse of many homeowners is turning to costly solutions, such as sump pumps, interior drainage systems, or full basement waterproofing to solve the problem – all of which come with big price tags.
However, there’s often an easier way that’s more preventative than expensive: addressing yard drainage issues. This relatively easy solution can alleviate, if not eliminate, flooding in the basement without draining the bank account.
Grading
Grading should be a homeowner’s first line of defense against wet basement issues.
One of the most common causes of water seepage in the basement is improper grading around the home. The ground around a home should be sloped to allow gravity to naturally direct water away from the foundation and toward traditional outlet areas like the street and city storm drains. Compared to the cost of fully waterproofing a basement or excavating and sealing a foundation, regrading a yard represents a much smaller investment – and even some additional benefits.
It sounds easy, but reshaping a yard requires expertise and precision to effectively prevent basement leaks, erosion, and other drainage problems. The professionals at Heinen are experts at regrading, with years of experience solving drainage problems on properties of all shapes and sizes throughout Kansas City. It’s more than just making water run downhill. Getting the slope just right is key because water that moves too quickly can cause erosion, and dispersing the water is critical too.
Proper grading isn’t just a good technique for promoting a dry basement. It can also enhance the overall health of lawns and landscaping. A well-graded property allows dry spots to be hydrated properly, while those areas that were prone to accumulating standing water will, after grading, absorb only as much moisture as needed while channeling away excess stormwater.
Retaining walls work well for yards with steep slopes or uneven terrain.
Retaining Walls
In addition to regrading a property, retaining walls can also used in conjunction with a grading project to help manage water flow and prevent erosion on properties with steep banks or uneven terrain. The walls function as barriers that slow down and redirect water when a property has dramatic elevation changes. Water that moves too quickly can erode grass and expose soil creating muddy slopes. Strategic placement of retaining walls by professionals, like the Heinen team, keeps soil in its place while redirecting water away from the home.
An added bonus is that retaining walls can also be used to enhance the appearance and usability of a yard while also assisting with proper drainage. They can create gentle slopes for visual interest, provide more landscaping options, and even be constructed as seat-walls for additional backyard seating.
Adding a dry creek bed is an excellent way to disguise an effective drainage solution.
French Drains and Dry Creek Beds
Grading and retaining walls are excellent for surface water drainage problems, but if a property needs a longer egress to control rainwater, a French drain or dry creek bed may be the best solution.
French drains are a form of underground drainage used to capture rainwater and redirect it below the surface to a lower plane. Water flows through buried perforated pipes blanketed in gravel, which filter and channel rainwater – in a nearly invisible fashion – away from the home and out to a street or storm drain.
Another option for properties that experience heavy water runoff during rainstorms is a dry creek bed. Their appearance is decorative, appearing to be a rock-lined channel – but they are, in fact, highly functional. They blend seamlessly into the landscape while providing a natural pathway for rainwater to properly egress.
Call The Drainage Experts at Heinen!
Each property has its own specific drainage needs and solutions, which is why it is essential to work with a team that has seen just about everything. The Heinen drainage team has solved drainage issues for homeowners across the Kansas City metro for over 35 years. Before investing in an expensive basement or foundation repair project, talk with the experts at Heinen to see how addressing yard drainage problems can help alleviate your basement flooding problems!
Call Debbie at (913) 432-5011 to schedule a no-obligation consultation with Heinen’s drainage specialists!
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