Exterior Home Modifications That Minimize Flooding

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

Flood-Resistant Exterior Home Modifications

Outside flooding at your Chicago, IL, home can pose a threat to both your home’s yard and the structure itself. Although a certified restoration company can help you get your home back to normal after a rain storm, it is easier to prevent flooding in the first place. There are several exterior modifications you can make to protect your residence.

Modifications to Yard
To make your yard more resistant to outside flooding, try the following modifications:

• Grading
• Installing heavy mulch
• Planting vegetation

If your lawn currently slopes toward your home, have a landscaper grade it so that it slopes away. Installing mulch increases the amount of water your lawn is able to absorb. Choose a heavy mulch so that it doesn’t wash away, and make sure it is located at least six inches away from the sides of your house to prevent wicking that leads to water damage. Planting flowers and filling in bare spots with grass also helps your lawn absorb more water.

Modifications to Home

To minimize the chances of outside flooding causing problems for your home’s structure, there are changes you can make to the exterior of your home. For example, clean your gutters and direct the drain spouts away from the sides of your home. Repair cracks in the foundation or exterior walls, and make sure windows and doors are watertight. Flat and gently sloping roofs can be converted to a green roof — a layer of vegetation planted in a growing medium installed on top of a roof. As with vegetation on the ground, green roofs are able to absorb a lot of rainfall.

Flooding damages your home and yard and can be difficult to clean up. When working on your lawn and the exterior of your home, focus on rain drainage and absorption to help your property better withstand excessive rainfall.