Portland
Oregon Real Estate - Live Green...Live Well!
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Patrick
Smith, MBA, AHWD
Eco Broker Certified
503-421-3824
Licensed in the State of Oregon
CONTACT PATRICK
4001
NE Halsey Street, Suite 100, Portland, Oregon,
97232
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Portland Real Estate Green Tip: Avoiding Basement Water Damage As we head into the fall months after a prolonged period of dry weather many Portland homeowners will be faced with the surprise of a wet or even flooded basement after our first sustained rainy period. This is a common occurence around this time each year and can easily be both avoided and remedied.
Each year, either at the end of summer or in early fall, be sure to have your gutters cleaned. You only have to have it done once to realize how much dirt and debris can accumulate over a season! If you have numerous trees that surround your home you may even want to consider installing gutters with protection guards.
Disconnect your downspouts! Not only will disconnecting downspouts aid in the health of our rivers and reduce water usage, it will also eliminate a common source of unwanted water penetration into your living space. When gutters fill with debris much of it runs into the downspouts and eventually restricts water flow or even clogs. As a result, water backs up out of the downspout around the foundation of your home. Because most foundations are made of a porous concrete structure, water accumulating around the base of your home will eventually seep through the foundation walls and into your basement.
It is important to note that when you disconnect your downspouts they should be rerouted approximately six feet away from your foundation by using corrugated flex pipe for example.
Another important step to eliminating the potential for water penetration is to grade the slope of your garden away from the foundation.
For ongoing or severe problems install French drains. Severe or ongoing problems can arise due to no fault of your own. For example, one of your neighbor''s property may set higher than yours allowing for water from their property to run onto yours. Although there are various methods for installing French drains here is a rather simple, do-it-yourself method that is relatively inexpensive:
1. Identify the problem area or areas, typically at a low-lying part of your property. The idea is to identify an ideal area to create a leach field. Be sure, however, that the location you choose is not going to end up impacting your neighbor!
2. Determine where you want to dig and call each of your local utilities to conduct a check for potential underground utilities! Once each utility company has conducted a "locate" and determines whether or not it is safe to dig you may either proceed as planned or revise your plan.
3. Begin digging toward your "end point" by creating a grade of approximately one foot per one hundred feet (or a one percent grade). Most trenches are adequate if dug at a width of approximately six inches and a depth of eight to twelve inches.
4. Next, line the trench with landscape fabric by laying it in the trench with approximately six inches of fabric left over on either side.
5. Fill the drain with gravel, making sure to keep dirt out of it. Once completed, wrap the excess ends of the landscape fabric over the exposed gravel essentially creating a tube of gravel.
6. Finally, shovel coarse sand or dirt over the top and you''re done!
Any home inspector will tell you water is enemy number one to a home either inside or out. Maintaining a dry basement is simple, typically inexpensive and will preserve the life of your home for many years.
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