Drainage: Your Home’s Best Friend or Worst Enemy

I've been out for the last several days with clients who have been visiting from Mississippi.  I think we've finally settled on a house and we will be making an offer on a home within the next 24 to 48 hours.  Since last Wednesday, we've done a lot of walking around foundations and landscapes of homes that were of interest to my Mississippi clients.

If you live in Atlanta, you know we've experienced significant drought issues in recent years.  So, it goes without saying that with our recent rain storms -- especially during the last week -- many landscapes and foundations surrounding homes are a little soggy right now.  It's tell tale to visit property after several days of rain.  Is the ground totally wet and soggy?  Is the ground dry after a whole night of hard rain?  Where does the run-off go?   

David Weekley Home Builders builds energy-efficient homes and offers a great end-product that I believe most buyers will love for years to come.  So since I've been slogging around landscapes the last few days, an e-mail I received just last night from David Weekley Homes seems appropriate for my blog today.

Luckily in the Atlanta metro market we don't have to worry about melting snow, but we do get our fair share of rain this time of year -- especially as a result of the latest precipitation up north.  I'd say out of the 30 or so homes we visited during the last week, about half had drainage issues. 

The following is really great information from David Weekley and so I share it with you now!  Enjoy!

Drainage:  Your Home's Best Friend or Worst Enemy
Between melting winter snow and early spring rains, we’re approaching that time of year when the soil in our yards and under our homes swells with excess moisture. When this moisture leaches out of the soil, settlement occurs and, when uneven, it can lead to drainage problems.

 As long as the soil beneath your home expands and contracts uniformly, there’s little to worry about. Problems can arise when the dry soil under one side of your foundation is contracting while the wet soil on the other side is expanding. This causes your foundation to heave and crack, which can lead to cracks and separations throughout your home’s interior.

Poor drainage can damage your foundation
If you think the only downside to poor drainage is tiptoeing around water puddles when it rains, consider this: foundation repair can cost up to $30,000 or more, and most homeowner insurance policies don’t cover it.   Avoiding costly foundation repairs is probably your biggest incentive to maintain good yard drainage, but it is by no means the only reason.

Puddles: an invitation for mosquitoes to join your backyard parties
In addition to carrying diseases like West Nile virus, malaria and encephalitis, mosquitoes are also responsible for hosting and delivering heartworms to our dogs and cats. Those little bloodsuckers thrive on moisture, laying their eggs in standing water. They don’t need a lake; all it takes is an ounce for most mosquitoes to lay eggs, though some species require only a damp patch of soil to turn your backyard into a nursery.

What happened to my petunias? It could be drainage-related lawn disease and erosion
Many of the fungal-based diseases that attack our lawns love moisture. Excessive water also prevents grass, plants and trees from getting the nutrients they need to survive. When the ground cover dies, it leaves behind unprotected soil which is susceptible to more damage and erosion.    So if you see pooling water, soggy spots, gullies or other signs of poor drainage, it’s probably a good time to have a professional landscaper check it out. You'll be glad you did.

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia.  Sara works with residential buyers and sellers alike in the north Atlanta metro area including but not limited to Acworth, Alpharetta, Canton, Cumming, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs, Roswell and Woodstock.  Sara is always happy to answer your many questions regarding the Atlanta metro real estate market in general or specifics regarding the relocation / buying / selling process.  Sara is easily reached at 404-660-2481 or via e-mail at Sara@SaraHibbard.com.   Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate is on Your Mind!