Is Your Basement Susceptible to Flood Damage?

Posted in Water Damage, on March 24, 2021 By admin

As many homeowners already know from experience, basement floods can be costly, especially if basement flood clean-up or flood restoration is required. While certain calamities are avoidable, some are unanticipated. So it's wise to understand the conditions that could make a basement more of a risk for flooding.

There’s no doubt that underground pipes, sewers, and catch basins can be the cause of a basement flood. For example, during heavy rain, sewers can be overwhelmed, and flooding may occur. That’s why it’s essential to take the necessary steps to protect a home from potential flooding. In other words, it’s prevention that’s key.

As it is, there are several reasons why a basement could be susceptible to flooding. There could be a crack in the home’s foundation walls. There could be a flawed drainage system around the house. There could be problems with the eavestroughs or downspouts. And there could even be tree roots that have cracked the local sewer pipes.

The truth is, almost every home is susceptible to basement flooding. While homeowners can take steps to reduce or prevent basement flooding, things can happen. At that point, comprehensive basement flood clean up and flood restoration may be the only viable option in remediating the extent of damage caused by the flooding.

Improperly Sloped Ground

Basement flooding can quickly occur when the ground is not properly sloped around the house. For drainage purposes, a home should be higher than the surrounding property. In this way, all of the land around the house slopes downhill away from the house.

With a downhill slope, rainwater flows away from the house, therefore preventing water from collecting around the foundation walls. Without a downhill slope, basement flooding can result and can cause additional foundation issues beyond the flooding.

Correcting improper grading around the house will effectively prevent rainwater from pooling in areas that are close to the home. This will significantly reduce the potential for basement flooding. It’s a preventive approach but will not suffice with other problems.

Reverse Sloping Driveways

There is no question that a reverse sloped driveway increases the potential for water to enter the home. Although proper design and drainage can mitigate water flow down a driveway, the very design encourages rainwater to flow down and close to the house.

To reduce the "road runoff” that flows down the driveway from the main road one can create a slight rise between the driveway and the road. A better option is to invest in good drainage to allow overland water flow to stream into the sewer system.

With basement flooding, structural damage and property damage can be very costly, not to mention the cost of basement flood clean up and flood restoration. Without a doubt, investing in some preventive measures can offset the adverse effects of a sloping driveway. 

Drainage Plumbing Back Up

A home’s drainage system can back up when the sewer lines are obstructed for some reason. This type of basement flood requires fast and immediate remediation. Unfortunately, both the physical damage and property damage can be substantial.

Sewage backs up into a home for two reasons – either the home’s drain pipes are clogged, or the main sewer line is clogged. Tree roots are often a cause of flooding when the spreading roots break into the sewer line, crack the pipe, and allow flooding.

Here again, prevention can be the answer by possibly installing water backflow valves. While this is undoubtedly a preventive measure in the basement, it's not foolproof. With this type of flooding, a professional restoration company is the only answer.

Basement Foundation Cracks

One of the most common ways for water to flood a basement is through cracks in the walls. When water accumulates outside the foundation walls of a home, pressure builds up, and water is pushed into the house through various cracks.

When a home settles over time, foundation cracks are practically inevitable. And when these cracks are not properly maintained or repaired, it’s a direct route for outside water to seep directly into the basement, often causing some flooding.

Spring is considered a dangerous season for water entering the basement. The house has been surrounded by snow and ice throughout the winter, and when everything melts, the cracks in the foundation walls are an easy target for water to flow.

Flood Damage Professionals

With basement flood damage, there are no shortcuts. Once a basement has been flooded, and the damage is done, flood damage professionals must perform the basement flood clean up and flood restoration.

At Canada’s Restoration Services, the health and safety of homeowners are always the priority. Our team of professionals works according to IICRC standards – Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration.

Whatever the water damage, our objective is to restore the damaged areas to original condition, guaranteeing that our customers are always completely satisfied. We do it all – from repairs to full restoration.

Count on Canada’s Restoration Services For All Types of Water Damage in the GTA.

Canada’s Restoration Services provides basement flood clean up and flood restoration in Toronto and throughout the GTA. In addition to water damage restoration, we also offer mold removal services and fire damage restoration.

With basement flooding, our remediation teams can often arrive on site within the hour. And when urgency is required, we are available 24/7 for emergency services. Whatever the damage, we strive for optimum restoration results.

At CRS, our highly trained technicians (IICRC certified) will identify the scope of water damage and recommend the proper repairs and restoration. Everything is done in a safe working environment to ensure safety for occupants and workers.

Servicing residential and commercial properties, Canada’s Restoration Services maintains the highest standards of workmanship, regardless of the size of the job. We work with all of the major insurance companies in Canada.
Find out more about Canada’s Restoration Services by calling one of our in-house water damage specialists at 1-888-551-0514. Or visit www.canadarestorationservices.com and learn more about our wide range of services.