Wet basements are a problem all across the United States, in every climate, and in every type of home. The secret to keeping your basement dry is keeping the moisture down along your home’s foundation. First of all, you want to make sure that your home has gutters. Then you need to make sure that those gutters and downspouts stay clean and free-flowing. Next, you need to look at where the water is being deposited when it exits the downspout. If it is pouring out right next to your foundation, you are going to end up with water in the basement at some point. You ideally need those downspouts to deposit the water about 3 to 6 feet away from the foundation wall. Lastly, you need to make sure that the soil around your foundation slopes away from the house. You want the grading to go down about 6 inches over 4 feet–not a drastic drop by any means, just enough to get that water moving away from your house. If you tackle these steps you will end up with a dry space downstairs that you can actually use for storage and claim the valuable space for the much-needed family room (or man cave, your call). The first thing you need to do, though, is give your gutter system a good inspection and make sure the water gets into the gutter and stays in until it flows properly away from your Money Pit. Here’s how to make any needed repairs to gutters and downspouts.
Start off by cleaning out your gutters. Be sure to inspect for any damages as you clean, and take note of where they are and what type of repair they might need. For fastening issues, simply drill a new hole for the new rivet and secure connection point using your Arrow RHT300 Rivet Gun. It has a swiveling head and an extension bit that makes it the perfect fit for the hard-to-get-to areas. For patching up any holes in gutters, you first need to clean around the damaged area using steel wool. Then cut a patch larger than the damaged area using the same material as your gutter if possible. Holding the patch in place, you need to drill holes around the perimeter of the patch and gutter to allow for the rivets to grab hold. Remove the patch and apply a bead of silicone caulk along the back side including the drilled out areas. Realign and lay the patch in place. Secure the patch using your Rivet Gun, starting with opposing corners to help keep the patch in the right spot.
Taking simple steps now to secure your gutter system could save you big bucks throughout the rest of the year. Maintaining moisture around your home’s perimeter truly is a surefire way to keep your basement dry and belongings safe.
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