Many homeowners in Madison, WI got water in their basements last spring and summer. With all of the snow we had in the winter and the rainy spring and summer the water tables were high and the rain kept coming. Homeowners may have been able to avoid getting water in their basements by making sure their yard is properly graded.

Why you should care about grading
The goal of properly grading your yard is to make sure that all the rain that comes down goes away from your home so it does not have the opportunity to leak into the basement. Water that leaks in a basement can cause numerous problems, from ruining a homeowners belongings, ruining finished portions of a basement, to causing mold to grow. Homeowners need to prevent water coming in through the foundations to prevent any long term problems.

How to improve your grade
Homeowners can either hire a construction or landscaping company to properly grade their yard or do it themselves. If a homeowner is going to do it themselves they need to call the diggers hotline to come and mark the water and power lines that may be buried. There are numerous online tutorials on properly grading your home’s yard. The sod needs to gradually slope away from the home with a 2% grade. Homeowners may want to install a french drain or make sure there is a sufficient path for the water to flow. After you have graded your yard properly you can plant grass seed so you have a beautiful yard this spring. A little work now can mean a dry basement this spring!

Contact Mark or Laurel today for more tips on how to increase your curb appeal by making your yard look its best. 608.239.5593