Improve grading and drainage away from foundation

Regrade soil around your foundation to slope away at 6 inches over the first 10 feet, and extend downspouts at least 4-6 feet from the house. Most basement and crawl space moisture problems originate from surface water pooling against the foundation.

Why It Works

Water follows gravity. When soil settles toward the foundation over time — which happens to virtually every home — rainwater pools against the foundation wall and migrates through concrete via hydrostatic pressure and capillary action. Correcting the grade redirects thousands of gallons per year away from the structure.

Steps

1. Check grade with a level: soil should slope visibly away from the house on all sides
2. Add clean fill dirt (not topsoil) to build up low areas against the foundation
3. Extend downspouts with rigid extensions or buried drain pipe to discharge 4-6 feet away
4. Keep mulch below 2 inches deep against the foundation — thick mulch traps moisture against siding

Tips

• This is the single most effective and cheapest moisture prevention measure — materials cost under $100
• Fill dirt costs $20-$40 per cubic yard delivered
• Underground downspout extensions with pop-up emitters ($30-$50 each) are invisible and maintenance-free
• Address grading before investing in interior solutions like sump pumps or dehumidifiers