I'm having a bit of a debate with my wife about whether it's actually good for water to pool against our house during heavy rain. She thinks it's beneficial since the foundation needs to 'be watered,' but I'm concerned that standing water might damage it. We have a small dirt area next to the house that runs about 2 feet out and then has pavers installed to help with grading issues. Water has always pooled here, even before the pavers, but it seems worse now. I wanted to remove some plants to extend the pavers or even add concrete up to the house. I'm looking for clarity on whether either of us is right or if there's a middle ground here.
3 Answers
It's great to hear your wife is okay! Just to clear things up, standing water around a foundation is typically a bad idea. Water pooling can cause hydrostatic pressure, which can push against your foundation and cause cracks or settling issues. It’s true that in certain areas, like places with clay soil, people water their foundations to prevent drying out in droughts, but in general, you want to keep water moving away from your house. Fixing the grading or putting in some drainage solutions could be key here.
Honestly, you should definitely not have water sitting next to your house. Water should be redirected away from your foundation to avoid issues like mold, erosion, or wood rot. Adding gutters and downspouts would help, and if you can improve the grading of the land around your home, that would definitely benefit you. You might want to consider installing a French drain too, as it can be an effective way to redirect water. It's more about ensuring a dry environment than anything else!
Your wife's idea might stem from some truth about watering foundations in specific regions, but for the most part, water pooling near a house is problematic. You want consistent moisture about 18 inches away instead, to prevent over-saturation. I recommend looking into your drainage options, like you said. It might seem like a hassle but trust me, you'll thank yourself later for addressing this issue!
Exactly! Keeping good moisture levels is key, but standing water is a recipe for disaster. It's definitely worth the effort to make those adjustments.
Agreed! Thankfully there are many solutions out there. A little investment now could save you from costly repairs later.