What’s the best solution for redirecting front downspouts to prevent moisture issues in the basement and avoid future landscaping conflicts?
I’m kind of stuck on what to do about my front downspouts. Both of them run along the front of the house and empty out on the sides, causing water to run down along the house. I think this might be contributing to some moisture issues in the basement, although nothing major.
There’s a small space between the front sidewalk and the house, and my original plan was to dig that out, lay down some PVC, and trench it on the right side to redirect the water to the backyard. The left side is a bit trickier since the sidewalk is right up against the house, but I could dig underneath it and lay down PVC to solve that problem.
Another option I’m considering is running the downspouts under the front porch and through the basement to the backyard. This would involve drilling into the cinder block, running PVC through the basement, and having it empty out in the back. It seems like a simpler solution, but I’m not sure if it’s the best one. Any thoughts?
I also want to address the issue of drainage in the front yard, which slopes towards the house.
I’m trying to avoid major trenching and burying work since I’m not sure if we’ll be doing
It seems like your house is situated on a slope, with the left side being higher than the right. Any water flowing towards the left will end up on the right side, possibly leading to water entering the basement. Based on your description, it appears that water is already seeping into your basement. If you don’t already have a sump pump, I suggest investing in one. You may also want to consider adding gutters to all sides of the house, especially the left. Adding gutters around the entire house will help redirect water away from your home. You could adjust the existing downspout on the left side by turning it 90° to channel water towards the front of the house. The right side seems to be in good condition. Additionally, installing a French drain could be beneficial.
Has gutters all around her house, but she’s mainly worried about the front ones and how they drain. She’s debating between trenching and laying PVC to the back or boring through the foundation and running PVC through the basement.
Suggests digging a trench instead of boring through your basement for drainage purposes.
The best way to address the issue is by installing underground drainage. You’ll need to either bore through or go underneath the sidewalk to install the necessary pipes.
I agree with that approach and suggest directing the drainage from both downspouts to the right.
That was one option I had in mind. However, I’m considering extending our driveway next to the house (on the right side) in the future. I’m undecided about burying so much PVC and paving over it.
Typically employs flexible pipe, which is the standard choice.
A pipe should not be crushed under a thick layer of reinforced concrete (like rebar).
I totally understand where you’re coming from . I tend to get a bit paranoid myself when it comes to things like that. I’d hate to have to do any digging if something goes wrong. I’ll have to make sure to bury it pretty deep considering I’m in Michigan. Can’t risk it freezing up on me.
Personally, I would recommend digging a trench for two main reasons. First, trenching not only provides a solution for managing the downspouts but also allows for the installation of a second PVC pipe with gravel for a French drain around the foundation. This additional drainage system can help handle any excess surface water. Second, it’s risky to create any openings in the foundation as it could lead to cracking and leaks. If water is directed through the basement and a pipe breaks or leaks, it could cause significant damage. These are just my thoughts as I’m not a professional in this field.
Made some great points. It might be a good idea to create separate drainage systems for the downspouts. Another option could be to install drainage in front of the sidewalk, directing water towards the back of the house. A French drain along the foundation, as you suggested, could also be effective. While the sump pump is doing a good job, the sloped yard might require additional measures.
I would dig a trench and install PVC to divert the water away from the house. In Connecticut, I buried a 4” schedule 40 pipe under my driveway last year before having it paved this year. I made sure to place it 18-24” below ground level (frost line is 42” in CT) to protect the pipes from vehicle traffic. As long as the slope is correct, there shouldn’t be any issues with freezing. I was worried about pipe damage because they were under the driveway, but heavy truck traffic (concrete trucks, dump trucks, etc) passed over them before paving and water flowed through without any problems. Everything I researched indicated that 18”-24” should be sufficient for vehicle traffic and currently we don’t have heavy trucks on the driveway to avoid damaging the asphalt.
Consider regrading so the slope moves away from the house. Downspout extenders could be a quick and cost-effective solution. The house I grew up in had a dry well that collected rainwater.
Unfortunately cannot reconsider. I might have to resort to a complete drainage system haha