7 Ways to Flood-Proof Your House

We have just experienced some crazy weather over the past few weeks in Kansas City. The record-breaking flooding damaged many homes and although we cannot control the weather, there are many things we can do to keep our homes as flood-proof as possible!

1. Ensure your lot is properly graded. You should have at least one inch of fall for every foot that you go away from the house. Insufficient slope away from the foundation can cause poor drainage, when then results in having a leaky basement.
2. Regularly clean and maintain your gutters so that they're not blocked. Blocked gutters cause water to run down the side of the house, and then to the foundation.
3. Close foundation cracks with mortar and masonry caulk or hydraulic cement, which expands and fills gaps completely and costs only a few dollars. If you experience a recurring issue from these cracks, we recommend having a structural engineer evaluate the problem.
4. Invest in a battery-backup for your Sump Pump.Sump pumps let you pump water out of your home and can be an excellent defense against flooding — unless they're powered by electricity and the power is out. A Battery-backup will ensure your sump pump continues to run even if the power goes out.
5. Extend downspouts away from your home. Add downspout extenders and splash boxes and make sure they extend three to six feet away from the home. This is inexpensive and will make a big difference in keeping moisture away from your foundation.
6. Purchase window well covers so that water does not accumulate. When we have 10 inches of rain like we did the other day, this amount of water can fill up the window wells very quickly.
7. Repair sidewalks, patios, decks and driveways that may have shifted over the years, allowing water to pool close to the home.

If you have any questions about these suggestions, please leave us a comment below and we would be happy to help!