When it comes to keeping your basement dry, you might, understandably, think about drains and lining the walls. All this certainly has its place and is undoubtedly effective, but they’re not the only steps to think about. There are options you can explore without even opening your basement door.
Landscaping, from heavy duty remodelling of your property to fairly straightforward gardening tasks, can play a huge role in waterproofing.
Understanding The Basics Of Waterproofing
Waterproofing your basement is the art of controlling where water and moisture goes. Unfortunately, it’s never possible to entirely eliminate the threat water poses, but managing the risk is pretty easy.
Water from various sources can threaten your basement. The most common are:
- Groundwater: all the soil around your walls contains a certain level of moisture. When it rains and the ground becomes saturated, this water has to go somewhere…
- Condensation: just like the soil, air contains water too. When this warm, humid air touches the cold surface of your basement wall, liquefies and forms condensation.
- Leaks: it could be a dripping pipe or water coming in through a crack, but leaks do happen.
This can cause all kinds of damage. From ruining finishes, allowing mold to take hold to serious structural damage, managing water is vital.
Common Causes
In basements there are two major causes of moisture finding its way in from outside that landscaping can help tackle.
- Hydrostatic pressure: Your basement walls and floors are surrounded by soil, containing water. This places pressure on your basement and when it gets too strong, the water has to go somewhere. If there are cracks, even very small ones, it will find a way through. If there are no cracks, it can make its own.
- Improper drainage: Water always follows the path of least resistance and the role of drains is to create one which suits you. If your drains aren’t big enough, positioned correctly or are blocked, the result is water building up and pooling.
The Impact Of Landscaping
The qualities of the area surrounding your home can help or hinder your basement waterproofing efforts. Contacting a local contractor for landscaping near me for basement waterproofing ensures they understand the local soil composition, water table levels, and climate conditions, which are critical factors in effective waterproofing solutions. Their proximity also allows for quicker response times and familiarity with local regulations, ensuring the work meets all necessary standards for a dry and protected basement environment. Key factors include:
Grading And Slope
Water flows downhill. Grading ensures that your home is on a relatively high point and the ground slopes away from your walls. In the vast majority of cases, this involves some pretty heavy duty groundworks around your foundations. It’s usually done during construction but it can be rectified later, though it’s a big, disruptive job.
If done properly, creating a slope away from your basement walls will mean that water which does gather flows away. Ideally, you want this slope to drop one inch per foot away from your home for a distance of 5-10 feet. This might not be possible, but any slope is better than none.
Plants And Their Roots
Plants take their water intake from the ground around them giving them a role to play in waterproofing. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as “plant loads of stuff”; there are nuances to consider.
Different plants have different root systems. Some are deep and strong, others stay nearer the surface and spread outwards. In general, you want to avoid deep roots, like those of trees being right next to your walls. Given enough time, they can push through concrete and crack pipes, so considering placement carefully is a good idea.
On the other hand, wide, shallow root systems can be beneficial. They help absorb reasonable amounts of surface water before it becomes a threat. There’s a reason your lawn doesn’t become a massive puddle after every shower.
Soil Composition
Different areas have different qualities of soil. The local conditions will dictate which you have, though it’s possible to have a blend of attributes too. The three main types and their drainage properties are:
- Clay: poor drainage. Claggy, sticky clay retains water, increasing the risks from hydrostatic pressure.
- Sandy: great drainage. The small, distinct particles in sandy soil allow an easy route for water to flow.
- Loamy: a mixture of the above.
In terms of waterproofing, loamy soil is ideal. It both retains a certain amount of moisture but also lets more drain away. This makes it easier to manage in the long-term.
If you find yourself with unideal conditions, you can do things to help. Working your garden, mixing in composts and top-soils means you can customise your soil however you need. Your plants, and basement, will thank you.
Practical Tips For Enhanced Waterproofing
Now that we’ve got a grip on the mechanics, how do we apply them to boost our waterproofing efforts?
Strategic Plant Placement
Think about where you are planting various things before digging. A good rule of thumb is that trees and larger shrubs should be at least 10 feet away from your walls.
If you’re planting larger trees, it’s probably best to keep them even further away from your home. This will help minimize the risk of root intrusion.
Use Mulch And Ground Covers
Mulch and organic matter is great for both your plants and basement walls. It allows moisture retention but keeps it at a higher level in the soil, minimising hydrostatic pressure. It can look great too.
Similarly, inorganic ground covers can help provide a barrier, reducing the effect of rain on your groundwater levels. Not only this, but they’re great for minimizing the effects of soil erosion, making your grading more effective for longer. The fact they keep the weeds down is also nice.
Proper Maintenance
Landscaping features, drains and guttering all need to be maintained.
Keeping them clear or repairing breaks is usually fairly straight forward and allows water to flow safely away. A ladder, bucket and gloves will handle most issues with gutters. A snake should sort most issues with drains and downspouts. Installing a leaf-guard can save a lot of time and effort here.
In the case of a leaky gutter, clean the area and use silicone sealant. If this doesn’t do it, it’s a simple matter to replace like for like.
Advanced Solutions
If you’re looking to go slightly harder, there are a range of options to help boost your waterproofing from the outside:
- French Drains And Dry Wells. If you find issues with standing water, French drains and dry wells provide an easy way to redirect it. Sitting below the surface, they take advantage of water’s habit of following the easiest path, making sure that’s where you want it.
- Retaining Walls and Terracing. If your property has a strong slope, terracing your garden can provide numerous benefits. Helping avoid soil erosion and to direct the flow of water, they can also provide great opportunities for aesthetically pleasing gardens.
Working on your garden is more than just a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. With a little knowledge, it can help save your basement too.
