Top 20 Rainiest Cities and Towns in Virginia

The lists above show that Virginia has plenty of annual precipitation, along with a fair number of heavy rainfall events from storms to torrential rain. Given that climate, it’s critical to make sure your home is protected.

Here are our recommendations.

• Install and maintain gutters and downspouts. Heavy rain can cause a cascade of water off your roof and onto the foundation below. It’s essential to control that water with your gutters and downspouts, moving it away from the foundation. Review our article, Calculating the Importance of Gutters and Drainage, to make sure you have the right size. It’s also important to remove leaves and clear obstructions on a regular basis.
• Install downspout extensions: Even though the downspouts are sized correctly and free of obstructions, they need to route the water well away from the foundation. That’s where extensions come into play. Make sure you install extensions and keep them clear.
• Practice proper landscaping: Once the water emerges from the downspout extensions, it needs to keep moving. Grading the soil around your home to help the water move away is the best approach. That helps alleviate any buildup of water around your basement or crawl space.
• Waterproof your basement or crawl space: Water seeps into the soil and pools around the walls of your basement or crawl space. Make sure to repair wall cracks to remove any quick paths for water to leak through. Also, install a drainage system and sump pump with a backup battery to remove water before it becomes a problem.

Those are good starting points for protecting your home. We also recommend that you consult the professionals at JES Foundation Repair for a free inspection and repair estimate to identify any issues with your basement or crawl space that need attention in preparation for heavy rains.