When you live in Louisiana, everyone likes to joke about how we all own boats or are that close to growing gills. After all, we’re the second rainiest state in the nation—especially with storm season in full force. However, while we have adapted to all the rainwater, some of our homes haven’t. Letting this water sit on your property isn’t just bad for your yard—your home could be at risk! Learn how to properly use yard drainage from our company before problems arise.
What Does Poor Drainage Look Like?
It can be difficult to find a problem if it’s something that’s been a constant for a long time. Despite this, there are some signs of yard drainage issues that are pretty easy to pick out if you know what to look for.
- Standing puddles of water. If you look out into your yard after a storm and see random puddles, you already have a problem on your hands. This standing water is slowly sinking into your soil and the closer it is to your home, the more dangerous it is to your foundation.
- Clogged gutters. Remember how your dad would make you clean the gutters as a kid? It was for a pretty good reason. If those gutters stay clogged and a heavy storm comes in, the resulting water will overflow and pool next to your home.
- Mold in your attic. Now we know this sounds a bit odd, so let’s explain. Moisture on the ground will ride to the top of the home and condense on the underside of your roof. This added moisture becomes mold and mildew. Ignoring this issue could cause you to have problems with your roof later on!
What Do I Need To Do About This?
These problems are easy to point out and luckily, they’re just as easy to manage. And the great thing is, if you handle these issues before your foundation takes a hit, you can prevent your home from foundation damage.
Let’s begin with those pesky standing puddles. Landscaping comes in handy here and with it, swales or berms are useful for directing water in another direction. Getting the water into the road is the goal here. So having your yard form a small slope into the road or a ditch is perfect.
The same can be said for your attic. Treating the mildew and ensuring the water runs away from your home is a good way to fix this problem. However, if you cannot see the source of the moisture, you may need to call in the professionals to check it out.
Lastly, gutters and downspouts are their own issues that need handling. Clogged gutters are easy to manage—for a while. The trees above should be trimmed regularly or removed to avoid the need for constant maintenance. And on the other hand, downspouts should be in your complete control. Ensuring that the water is being directed away from the home and isn’t splashing into the soil next to the house.
Call Our Yard Drainage Company To Talk Options
At the end of the day, while you may be used to the water Louisiana provides, our homes are not. Well, unless you live in a houseboat! If your home has suffered from these issues for a while, it’s probably time to call in the professionals to check out your home’s foundation. So call WCK Foundation Repair today at (225) 664-5956 or get a free estimate from us online. Let’s make your house a home.