There are a few surrounding areas or components that will play a major role in the quality of your property’s concrete, and at or near the top of any such list is your structure’s drainage. Moisture is one of the single most common sources of concrete issues, seeping into cracks or other concrete gaps and causing issues due to expansion or contraction — ensuring your drainage system is moving water away from these surfaces is vital for its quality.
At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting, LLC, many of our Ogden concrete lifting and leveling job needs result at least in some part due to moisture damage — including those that result from drainage problems in areas like patios, porches, steps and others that often sit below drainage areas. We also help advise clients on how to avoid these issues in the first place. Particularly during this current spring season, where your drainage system may be recovering from snow buildups or other issues over the summer, it’s vital to both inspect it and make any repairs that are needed (whether on your own or with professional assistance). Here are some reasons why this is important.
Preventing Home Water Damage
The first issue we’ll point out here with regard to damaged or improper drainage is one that impacts not just concrete, but also the rest of your home: water damage. While many people are familiar with the potential for water to cause issues inside the home, it’s vital to remember that any surface of your property that sits below a drainage point is at risk for serious water damage — and this includes your basement or crawlspace, as well as any outdoor patios, steps or other concrete surfaces.
To avoid these issues, it’s important to ensure that all of your drainage systems are clear and in good repair before the spring season (or any time of year with significant precipitation). This means making sure gutters and downspouts are clean and able to move water away from your home as needed, in addition to ensuring that any outdoor drains are unblocked and in good working order. Doing this can prevent extensive water damage to both your home’s interior and exterior — as well as the concrete surfaces that sit below these drainage points.
Foundation Damage
Your home’s foundation is one of the single most important aspects of its structure, and even a small amount of water damage can cause serious foundation issues. That’s why it’s critical to ensure that all drainage systems surrounding your home are in good working order, as any leaks or blockages could result in water seeping into your home’s foundation (or the soil around it) and causing major problems.
In many cases, foundation issues arise simultaneously with others like concrete garage floor cracks or patio cracks; this is because the water that causes these issues often comes from the same source. As such, fixing drainage problems as soon as they’re discovered can often prevent a host of other serious concrete issues from arising.
Sinking Concrete Surfaces
Another common issue that can arise from damaged or improper drainage is sinking concrete — an all-too-frequent problem with outdoor concrete surfaces like patios, steps and sidewalks. While this can often be caused by soil erosion (another potential issue that can arise from improper drainage), it’s also frequently the result of water seeping into these concrete surfaces and causing them to heave or sink.
Preventing these issues often comes down to ensuring that all drainage systems are in good working order, as this can help prevent water from seeping into these surfaces and causing them damage. In some cases, however, it may also be necessary to have these surfaces repaired or replaced if they’ve already been damaged by water.
Steps and Tips for Drainage Maintenance or Repair
Especially if you’ve had concrete damage or related issues in the past, but even if you haven’t, here are some important themes to consider for both inspecting and repairing your drainage system:
- Simple, safe inspection: Whether you do this on your own or hire a professional, it’s important to inspect all aspects of your drainage system (including gutters, downspouts, outdoor drains and any other potential problem areas) at least once per year. This helps ensure that any issues are discovered and fixed as soon as possible, before they have a chance to cause extensive damage.
- Regular gutter and downspout cleaning: One of the most important aspects of maintaining your drainage system is keeping gutters and downspouts clean, as this helps ensure that they’re able to move water away from your home as needed. This is especially important in the fall, when leaves and other debris can clog these drainage points and prevent them from working properly.
- Proactive repair: If you do notice any issues with your drainage system, it’s important to have them fixed as soon as possible. In many cases, small repairs (like clearing a blocked gutter or downspout) can be done on your own; however, more significant issues (like a cracked foundation or a heaving patio) will likely require the help of a professional.
- Don’t wait to address drainage issues: As with most concrete problems, it’s important to address drainage issues as soon as they’re discovered. The longer you wait to fix these problems, the greater the chance that they’ll cause serious (and expensive) damage to your home.
The importance of drainage repair for concrete maintenance cannot be understated. Moisture is one of the single most common sources of concrete issues, seeping into cracks or other concrete gaps and causing issues due to expansion or contraction — ensuring your drainage system is moving water away from these surfaces is vital for its quality.
For more on this, or to learn about any of our concrete repair services in Ogden or nearby areas, speak to the team at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting, LLC today.
