How to Protect Your Property Against Hazardous Flooding This Summer

Flooding Potential This Summer Into Fall

Flooding is a significant issue in the summer, and if you’ve ever suffered losses because of it, you know how horrible it can be. The key is to take action early and prevent as much of that as possible. After all, there are no guarantees that you will avoid all damage, but you significantly increase your chances of saving your property with just a few preventative measures. Read ahead about how to protect your property against hazardous flooding this Summer.
Here are our top recommendations to protect your home and yard against flooding.

Install French Drains

French drains aren’t familiar enough for everyone to know what they are, but if you’re dealing with flood issues, French drains can save your home’s most crucial part—the foundation. A French drain is essentially a pipe laid just under the topsoil, and it collects water that rolls off your roof or pools around your property to transport it to a safe space. Over the top, place a drain cover with rocks, and it adds an aesthetic touch to your home instead of just being a pipe in a shallow ditch. The cover keeps water from building up around your home, eroding the ground, and damaging the foundation. It’s also helpful if you have a basement that floods.

Repair Your Crawlspace

A home that’s in good shape is going to withstand flooding better than one that’s falling apart. Check your crawlspace regularly for damage, and if you find any, call for crawlspace repair services. If the area does flood, your home will handle it better. You can even take this one step further and go with crawlspace encapsulation that makes future repairs less necessary.

Level the Ground

One of the worst positions you can be in during a flood is downhill from the water. Sometimes, as the ground erodes, there can be slight dips in your yard that guide water back toward your home. Fixing this is simple, and it can be a big help. Just level the ground out. You can hire professionals or rent the proper machinery to do it yourself.

Prevent Ground Erosion with Rocks

Flood damage tends to either occur immediately when massive amounts of water enter the home, or it happens over time with repeated flooding when the ground erodes. Erosion exposes your foundation and creates some of the worst long-term flood damage. This prevention tactic doesn’t require any services or fancy technology, either. Just use rocks or gravel around trouble spots in your yard, and you can help keep the ground from eroding. If you do this right, you also get some nice landscaping features that protect your home against hazardous flooding this Summer.

Keep the Gutters in Good Condition

The heavy rain that most often causes flooding isn’t just a problem when it’s barreling toward your home in waves. It’s a big issue as it falls, too. Your gutters divert water away from your home’s foundation and toward a safe location. However, broken gutters are prone to becoming easily overwhelmed. Therefore, addressing these matters is essential. Also, consider an extended downspout to divert water even further from the house.

Protect and Repair Your Home with Atlantic Foundation

If flooding is a problem, you need real pros to find the perfect solution for you. At Atlantic Foundation, we offer French drain installation, encapsulation, and foundation repairs to help protect your home. Don’t wait until the next flood. Call Atlantic Foundation today to protect your home from hazardous flooding this Summer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How long does it take for flooding on flat plains to dry up on average?

   Flash flooding on average takes up to one to two days. However, river flooding can take weeks or months to recede. Knowing the terrain and checking flood reports on a property can help you prepare ahead of time.

2. What factors increase or decrease the likelihood of flooding in my yard?

   Soil permeability, tree roots, and slope topography all contribute to the runoff of water. For instance, sandy soil, dense tree roots, and downhill slopes drain water faster. However, homeowners on a slope need to beware of erosion. Slopes that are sandy, with dense tree roots run the risk of progressive erosion that place home’s foundations in jeopardy. Ideally, if your home is on a slope the soil will be clay based with a solid consistency. For lower plains, advanced drainage systems are twice as important, but you can also update your home and elevate it above ground.

Sources

-https://upgradedhome.com/home/home-improvement/roofs-and-gutters/8-ways-to-flood-proof-your-house-44636293
-https://www.bobvila.com/articles/french-drains/
-https://zavzaseal.com/blog/can-you-encapsulate-a-crawl-space-in-a-flood-zone/