Maintenance · 6 min read

Improve drainage around your foundation

Three drainage interventions you can do this weekend that will protect your foundation for years.

What you'll learn

  • Why downspouts are the #1 source of foundation moisture problems
  • How to extend a downspout 5+ feet from the foundation
  • How to fix reverse-grade landscape beds
  • When a French drain is overkill vs. necessary
  • Why daylight discharge always beats a sump pump

Step by step

  1. Walk every downspout. Confirm it discharges 5+ feet from the house.
  2. For each downspout that doesn't, add a flexible downspout extension.
  3. Walk the perimeter and note any landscape beds sloped toward the house.
  4. Re-grade those beds, minimum 6 inches drop in 10 ft, away from foundation.
  5. Check for hardscape (driveway, patio) shedding water at the foundation. Plan corrective drainage if needed.
Safety note

These three steps solve roughly 60% of foundation moisture problems the pros we send see in San Diego.

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