This was a really weird winter in the Twin Cities! With minimal snow and only a handful of REALLY cold days, it was an odd few months. This can relieve some stress around spring thawing and flooding this year – because there isn’t a lot to thaw! However, spring rain storms are just around the corner. That means it’s time to take precautions to prevent leaking in your Minneapolis basement.
Our experts at Christian Brothers Construction offer tips on how to avoid dangerous and messy basement flooding.
Risks of Basement Flooding
When the rain pounds down on your Minneapolis home and you see standing water on your front walk and the streets, you might immediately panic about your basement. Storms can be incredibly stressful if you are at risk for basement flooding. Leaks can not only create large and expensive cleanup projects, but they can put your family and your home at risk.
Some of the risks of flooded basements include structural damage to your house, damaged furniture and belongings, and even electrical hazards (and the threat of electrocution). These can also lead to health risks if mold and mildew develop, or if bacteria is present in the flood waters that enter your home.
There is also the expense of flooding issues that homeowners will need to deal with. They will need to replace damaged items, and possibly cope with an increase in insurance premiums.
While these are dangerous and annoying threats, there are ways homeowners can avoid them.
How to Prevent Basement Leaks
There are numerous methods for preventing basement flooding in Minneapolis homes. Some of the top techniques our team at Christian Brothers Construction recommend are:
- Ensuring the ground around your house is sloped away from the foundation. This will keep water from pooling around your foundation and leaking inside your house. To resolve grading issues, experts can add soil or use specialized tools to change the direction of the slope.
- Install and maintain gutters and downspouts. Gutters and downspouts play an important role during rainstorms. They collect water and direct it away from the foundation of your house. This makes it essential to keep them clean to ensure the water can flow through them properly.
- Check the foundation for cracks or openings. Technicians can inspect your home’s foundation using their expertise and tools to identify any gaps or cracks where water could seep into the home. Experts can then repair these by sealing them with epoxy or sealant.
- Install a sump pump to prevent flood waters from entering your home. This plumbing appliance plays a crucial role in keeping homes dry by pumping water away from the foundation.
- Hire an expert – like our team – to regularly check your foundation for any signs of deterioration or damage that could lead to leaks.
Why You Should Hire Christian Brothers For Your Foundation Services
When you need foundation repairs at your Minneapolis home, hire our contractors. Contact us today to get an estimate and schedule services to have our experts inspect your foundation and make necessary repairs. We specialize in finding and repairing complex foundation problems.
