It’s that time again to remember to clear your gutters from any debris that may have accumulated over the past year. Leaves in gutters can clog downspouts and lead to water spilling down the side of your home. This condition can lead to moisture accumulation inside your exterior walls, creating a perfect environment for dry rot and pest infestations down the line. More immediately troubling, water running over the gutters and pooling around your home’s foundation is the most likely reason for discovering water in your basement or crawlspace. Here are a few suggestions that will help protect your home from some of the negative affects of our damp Northwest winters:

Each fall, check and remove any debris from gutters and downspouts and consider installing a leaf catch in each of your downspout openings to help prevent future obstructions: these typically cost around $4.00 and can be found at your local hardware store. A more permanent measure, gutter screens can also be attached along the tops of your gutters to help prevent leaves from getting into them in the first place. Installing these is a larger project and requires that you be somewhat handy. Gutter or roofing companies can usually perform the work: for labor and materials, expect to pay between $2.00-$4.00 per linear foot.

2. Ensure that water from your downspouts is routed far enough away from your home to prevent standing water from accumulating along your foundation walls. If you haven’t already, consider connecting a flexible downspout extension to your existing downspouts to rout water well away from your home. An 8’ extension costs around $20. A more aesthetically pleasing solution might be to connect your downspouts to a French drain that will both transport water away from your home’s perimeter and be out of eyesight since they are buried underground. For more information a Google search for French drains will result in numerous articles or you can go to: http://www.askthebuilder.com/517_Installing_Downspout_Drain_Lines.shtml

3. If you notice that water continues to accumulate around your home, you may want to consider contacting a licensed contractor specializing in water related issues who can advise you of specific remedies. In some instances, it may be necessary to correct a negative grade to ensure that the ground slopes away from your basement and exterior walls. In the event that more substantial corrections are required, your contractor will be able to advise you of the most prudent and cost effective course of action.

- Alan Allred