If you’re building a home, or if you’ve got an older home that might not be up to date, then you’ve got a thousand details to keep track of. Stud distance, wiring, rooflines, there are all kinds of considerations to be made. However, one of the most important elements you might not have thought of. It’s out of sight, out of mind, and below ground: your foundation. If your foundation becomes damaged, then the house is in danger, as every home is built from the ground up. The number one source of damage to foundations, so it’s extremely important to consider your basement drainage systems in Massachusetts, where groundwater can be a serious problem.
Options for Dealing with Water
Some professionals will advise structural fixes, filling in cracks with epoxy and the like, but if the underlying problem isn’t dealt with, then a simple concrete band-aid won’t be enough to protect you from problems in the future. It is crucial to deal with the source of the problem, the water that has been seeping in and damaging the foundation. There are two primary systems to deal with the water, French drains and sump pumps.
French Drains
Named for a man named French, and not someone from France, a French drain is pretty simple. It is a trench dug into the exterior of your house, that is lined with gravel, and sends the water away from your house, to a reservoir or a drainage ditch. There are a number of instances when it would be advisable to use a French drain; anywhere that receives a lot of rainfall, anywhere with a lot of surface water or soggy soil, or a house built on a hill with a retaining wall. A French drain can direct the moisture away from your home, and is very low tech and low maintenance. However, if you live in a muddy or silty area, the drain may become frequently clogged and thus useless until they are cleaned out.
Sump Pump
Also known as interior water control, a sump pump is a device that will sit in the lowest part of your home and pump out water from your home. It can be preferable to a French drain if the drain will get consistently clogged, or if water has been persistently getting into your home. However, it has a considerable higher level of maintenance, and should be inspected yearly by a professional.
In the end, it’s important to know what basement drainage system’s best for you. Every house is different, and requires a different mechanism to deal with. It can be advisable to consult with a professional, one who doesn’t have a stake in acquiring a contract from you, to determine the best course of action. Regardless of what you do, make sure you are proactive, because a wet foundation unattended can destroy your home. Contact Basement Technologies for more details. Like us on our facebook page.
