Beware! Spring Thaw in Vilas County can mean Wet Basements!

Here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, spring is long-waited and well celebrated. Say goodbye to shoveling, scraping windshields, and tough driving conditions! For your home, spring thaw equals a new set of problems. You have just conquered the dangers of ice dams pushing water through your roof – now that pesky snow is seeping into your basement! 90% of homes suffer basement leaks, and, in Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, fast melting snow is often the culprit. North Twin Builders reminds homeowners to watch for signs of a wet basement this spring, to take preventive steps, and to address any underlying issues that create a threat to your home.

Why You Should Worry About a Wet Basement

You should first direct your attention to your stored belongings. Even a little moisture can be detrimental to stored books, paper, photographs or clothing. Getting rid of the water will not prevent more problems. Besides the potential for mold, you could be looking at deterioration of the interior of the basement as well as serious structural damage.

Water can seep in through cracks in the foundation or through weakened mortar joints. It can get in around windows or utility openings not installed correctly. It can even be forced up through cracks in the floor! Your first instinct might be to try to patch these cracks up, to prevent water getting in. However, waterproofing and patching only addresses the penetration, and water can always find another way in.

With any home maintenance problem, North Twin Builders recommends avoiding the quick and seemingly easy solutions in favor of a long term fix. Or better yet, make sure your home is built by an experienced contractor who applies building science to reduce the potential for future problems like this. Although preventing future water leakage into your basement should be handled by a professional, there are some things you can do to lessen the problem.

Control the Water Flow around Your home

It is important to identify where the water in your basement is coming from. You may be surprised to hear that your roof could be to blame. If the downspouts from your roof and gutters are not directed properly, they can create a rush of water aimed right at your foundation. To prevent this, make sure that any downspouts are directed at least 10 feet past the foundation, preferably onto a sloped surface that will carry the water away from the house. Make sure to keep gutters free of debris, snow and ice.

The snow on the ground around your home is another source. If your yard is not properly sloped, the melting snow will naturally flow towards the foundation. In some problem areas you can be proactive by clearing all snow away from the exterior of your home. Shovel it back about 5 feet, and make sure that the water can run downhill away from your home as it melts.

Call a Professional to Prevent Future Wet Basements

If water is flowing from your yard into your basement, you have a landscaping issue. Ideally, your lawn should slope away from your home because, as we all know, water runs downhill. It’s recommended that the top of your foundation should sit roughly 8 inches above the soil. Also, any plants around your home should be at least 2 feet from the foundation. The general rule is 1 inch of slope per foot of distance from your home for at least 6 feet.

Although you should take the preventive steps discussed, it is important to get to the root of the problem. It is likely that your yard is in need of re-grading, in addition to fixing the penetration issues in your foundation. North Twin Builders can provide you with solutions for your foundation and re-grading. For manicured lawns and extensive landscaping, we recommend also contacting Custom Landscaping of Eagle River or your preferred landscaper.

Contact North Twin Builders for all your home repairs this spring!