Five landscaping considerations that can help prevent storm damage and flood damage

1/26/2023 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO® of Media advises homeowners about landscaping strategies that aid in flood damage prevention.

SERVPRO of Media has provided flood restoration services for many homes in the Newtown Square, PA, area. The team knows that after flooding and flood damage, homeowners wonder what they could have done to prevent the disaster. One way to avoid flooding is through landscaping strategies. Landscaping offers many benefits to the home, including improving drainage to prevent water damage and reducing the likelihood of storm damage to the house and personal property. Below are five practical landscaping tips to help homeowners tend their yards while keeping water and storm damage concerns in mind.

Tip: Practice proper tree care

A home’s treescape provides shade, saves on energy bills, creates ambiance, and can add significant value to the selling price of a home. Though the project may be costly and involve permitting and paperwork with the governing municipality, do not delay removing dead, diseased, or rotten trees. Secure the services of a reputable, experienced, and well-equipped tree service to extract the trees. The dead tree may drop limbs or, worse, fall over while being tied off or cut down. The collateral damage to the home, vehicles and bystanders could be financially catastrophic. If the price quote for a job seems too good to be true, the reason may be the arborist does not carry adequate insurance. Dead trees and limbs can fall during high winds. Tree removal makes this type of damage avoidable.

Healthy trees need regular maintenance, especially if the canopy is near the home or overhangs the roof. Limb impact damage to siding, trim, paint, gutters, or windows caused by a tree near the structure is considered regular wear and tear over an extended period of time and would not be covered by insurance. A limb puncture to the roof may go unnoticed until a cascade of water pours into the attic, causing ceiling and wall water damage in the rooms below.

Tip: Avoid planting trees and shrubs near the septic system

When designing and installing a new landscape plan, avoid planting trees and shrubs on or near the septic drain field or main sewer line. The sewer line may be damaged during the planting process, resulting in a sewage backup disaster. Over time, roots from trees and shrubs can clog the drain field or crack the sewer line. The repairs to the sewage system will be costly, and a sewage backup in the home can result in costly cleanup and restoration.

Tip: Carefully manage water runoff around the home

Make sure the grade around the home slopes away from the foundation at one inch per foot for at least six to ten feet. Do not pile mulch next to the foundation since the excess moisture can cause mold or wood rot. Periodically inspect downspouts to determine if the connections are secure and do not leak.

Tip: Inspect and clean out the gutter system on a seasonal basis

Clogged gutters frequently cause serious water damage in the attic, siding, ceilings, and walls inside the home. Clean the gutters several times when the leaves begin to fall during autumn. A heavy thunderstorm with high winds can strip a tree bear. A mature oak tree may have as many as 200,000 or more leaves clinging tenaciously to its branches. If the yard has pine trees near the home, high winds and heavy rain can cause a massive needle loss that can clog gutters. Hire a professional to clean the gutters if there is any concern at all about falling from the ladder.

Tip: Install a sump pump as a last line of defense and test it regularly

When the gutters are clogged, when the downspouts are releasing water next to the foundation, when the slope away from the foundation is too shallow to divert water from a heavy downpour away from the structure, and when the foundation is allowing hundreds or thousands of gallons of water to seep into the basement or crawl space, let the sump pump do its work. Clean out and test the system several times a year. Include a backup battery system in case the power goes out.

Pre-qualify SERVPRO as the dedicated property damage cleanup and restoration company

The best time to find and choose a dedicated property damage cleanup and restoration company is before fire damage, smoke damage, water damage, or storm damage disaster has occurred. There is time to review the company’s website, read reviews, check references, and get to know the team. SERVPRO of Media provides a rapid response and a quick cleanup and restoration. The team is available 24/7, 365 days a year, including holidays. Customers received a detailed, well-documented estimate with images and video. SERVPRO handles the insurance claims process from beginning to end.

For more information about flood restoration services in Newtown Square, PA, call SERVPRO of Media at (610) 566-5720 or email office@SERVPROmedia.com.