Force 1 Restoration Services - How does landscaping help prevent or mitigate water damage?

Landscaping does more than just increase a home’s aesthetic appeal

Water damage, especially due to weather events, is inevitable. But there are several ways a homeowner can protect the house by taking certain measures.

Landscaping is how homeowners make their homes look aesthetically appealing and welcoming. But landscaping has a more functional and important role to play when it comes to protecting a house from water damage.

Force 1 Restoration Services discusses how to use landscaping to mitigate or prevent water damage:

Grade the yard: The high and low points of a home should be identified and extra dirt should be used to ensure the ground slopes away from the home in all directions surrounding the perimeter. During this grading process, one must ensure that vents, basement windows, pipes, drains, and other areas are not weakened.
Plant native species: Plants that are indigenous to a region help prevent soil erosion and also enable stormwater to drain more efficiently.
Add Mulch: The areas graded away from homes should be filled with a few inches of mulch to keep soil in place and retain rainwater. The mulch must be at least six inches from the siding to avoid moisture wicking and rotting of the home’s exterior.
Plant grass: The roots of grass can help absorb water and, therefore, it must not be mowed too short. This would weaken the roots and will fail to prevent flooding in the yard.
Make valleys: Creating valleys to redirect water away from the foundation relieves hydrostatic pressure. This method of leading water away from trouble spots is something expert landscapers can implement and help save thousands in traditional waterproofing methods.
Create a rain garden: Shallow, landscaped depressions help collect stormwater as well as water from gutters and downspouts. The water these rain gardens collect soak into the soil and eventually trickle into rivers and streams as “base flow”.
Install rain barrels: Rain barrels at the bottom of downspouts are an effective way to redirect moisture and protect a house from flooding. This is also an eco-friendly way to water lawns and decrease pollution runoff into lakes and natural waterways.
Get a sump pump: A sump pump can be used to collect rainwater that can’t drain from the property via the usual routes. It must be installed at the lowest part of the garden where the water will puddle.
Patio problems: A well-constructed patio can also sink into the earth when water pools around the home foundation. Therefore, removing patio pavers and adding new soil and pea gravel can help direct the water away from the foundation.
Check again: As the storm season approaches, rechecking all the above conditions and elements of landscaping ensures there are no unpleasant surprises. Preparation is always the best solution.

Following the above tips will assist with lessening the effects of weather-related water damage. In the event a home suffers water damage event, a professional water damage restoration company like Force 1 Restoration Services will help a client restore the home to pre-loss condition or better.

Why Force 1 Restoration Services?

The professionals at Force 1 Restoration Services can quickly arrive at the damaged residence with the personnel, equipment, and training to begin the water removal, drying, and restoration process. The team of professionals can handle the claims process and total restoration project from beginning to end for its clients.