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Downspouts can be installed underground to carry water further out. Instead, use gutter extensions to push water at least 5 feet away from your foundation. If your gutters drop water next to your foundation, what do you think is going to happen to that slope you just worked hard to create? That’s right, runoff from gutters will quickly erode your slope. The gutter system is the next most important element to protecting your home foundation. 2- Improve Your Gutter System & Extensions Remember, if you are going to add mulch to this area, that too needs to be graded to 6 inches in 10 feet. Do you notice any spots where the ground levels off or slopes toward the home? If so, use soil and a metal-tined rake to regrade the area to slopes down and away from your foundation. Walk this line around the perimeter of your home. Next, measure out 10 feet from where the foundation meets the ground. If your house is square-shaped, that means checking the slope in at least 8 locations. Check your slope in 2 spots on every side of the home (or more depending on size).
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But don’t stop here! Homeowners often only check the front yard and forget the rest of the perimeter of the house. Now multiply this gap by 5 and you’ll know if your slope is adequate. For a 24-inch level, there should be a 2-inch gap. Keeping the level straight, measure the gap between the ground and the bottom of the level. Place one end of the level where the foundation and ground meet. To check the grading, grab a level and go outside. It should be graded at least 6 inches in 10 feet (from the base of the foundation out toward the property’s perimeter). When looking at your home, do you notice your landscape sloping and funneling water away from your home? This slope should be assessed and regraded every year to help water move away from structures. Grading your landscape is a great way to protect your foundation from water. Runoff is one of the most important things to pay attention to as you tend to your garden. Here are 7 landscaping tips to protect your home foundation this season. Homeowners can take steps to protect their foundations from water, root systems, and changing soil composition. Did you know it’s possible to damage your foundation just by the way you landscape your yard? Don’t let that happen to your home. Spring is here! For homeowners and avid gardeners, this means it’s time to plan out your landscaping projects.