Repair and Remodel by Richard, LLC

I'm catching up and finishing "old" projects. I'll be taking on more work after September 7th Labor Day.

Basement Leaks I have talked to several people recently, friends and customers, who had some basement leaks after the recent heavy rains. It seems that most people assume basement leakage is caused by cracks in the basement walls and floor and require extensive and expensive crack sealing. Another assumption is that installation of perimeter drains and a sump pump is required. ... Expensive repairs are not always necessary. And it could be argued that expensive repairs are not usually necessary. In fact less costly repairs should be considered before proceeding to the more expensive repairs. For example, in my opinion, repairs should be considered in the following order. 1. Clean gutters and downspouts, 2. Reconfigure downspout outlets to discharge water away from the house, 3. Re-grade and / or modify landscaping to ensure positive surface drainage away from the house perimeter, 4. Install swales or channels to rapidly carry water away from the house perimeter, 5. Install shallow subsurface drains in the form of French drains ouside the house perimeter Only after the above options are investigated, analyzed and possibly installed, should more complex remedies be considered. Addendum: Gutters, with covers intended to prevent clogging with leaves and debris, may contribute to gutter overflow and water problems. Gutters with covers also need to be periodically inspected and cleaned of debris to maintain optimal capacity. Furthermore, during very intense rainfall, flow from the roof may may attain enough velocity to "splash over" the cover and gutter. The resulting waterfall may cause water to accumulate around the building perimeter and contribute to basement leakage.