Keeping Your Basement Dry: Two Simple Things to Check

No homeowner wants to discover water in the basement. Beyond the mess and damaged belongings, there’s the worry about what comes next: foundation repairs, excavation, waterproofing—and the bill.

But a wet basement doesn’t automatically mean the foundation needs expensive repairs. Sometimes, the problem starts with how water is being directed around the outside of the home.

Two things worth checking are downspouts and grading.

Downspouts: Give the water somewhere to go

Your roof collects a considerable amount of rainwater. Eavestroughs and downspouts help manage it, but they need to deliver that water somewhere it can drain safely away.

If a downspout ends right beside the house, you’re concentrating roof runoff next to the foundation—exactly where you don’t want it.

Check that your eavestroughs and downspouts are clear of debris, securely connected, and draining properly. Downspouts should have an elbow and a suitable extension directing water onto ground that slopes away from the house. Aim to discharge at least two metres from the foundation where possible, while following local requirements. Make sure the water won’t flow back toward your home or create problems for your neighbours.

What about downspouts that disappear underground?

An underground connection doesn’t tell you where the water goes. Depending on the home, it could connect to foundation drainage, a storm or sanitary sewer, or a separate drainage system.

Some older systems may be damaged or blocked, and some municipalities require certain downspouts to be disconnected. Before making changes, have the connection assessed and check local requirements. Where disconnection is appropriate, the unused underground opening needs to be properly capped and the roof runoff safely redirected.

Grading: Make sure the ground slopes away

Grading is simply the slope of the ground around your home. Ideally, that slope should encourage water to travel away from the foundation.

Over time, soil can settle and create dips beside the house. Garden beds, walkways, and other landscaping changes can also trap water or send it in the wrong direction.

After a good rainfall, take a walk around your property. Look for puddles beside the foundation, low spots, or water flowing toward basement windows and exterior walls.

And don’t assume a newer home is immune. I once showed a brand-new, multi-million-dollar home the day after a rainstorm. A large depression had been left beside the foundation, and there was a significant leak in the basement. The price tag hadn’t persuaded the water to go somewhere else.

For landscaped ground, a commonly recommended target is a five per cent slope—approximately six inches of fall over ten feet—where the property allows. Local requirements and site conditions may differ.

Small low spots may be corrected with suitable, compacted soil. Larger grading problems deserve professional advice, particularly where space is tight or neighbouring properties are involved. Avoid piling soil against siding, covering masonry drainage openings, or reducing the clearance around basement windows.

Start outside, but don’t ignore a leak

Good downspouts and proper grading won’t prevent every basement water problem. Foundation defects, groundwater, blocked drains, sump pump failures, and sewer backups can still require professional attention.

But managing surface water is an important first line of defence—and often a relatively inexpensive place to start.

The less water you send toward your foundation, the less water your basement has to keep out.