The best time to install home groundwater drainage is prior to the home experiencing a problem. What? What did he say? You heard me right.
I know from experience that homes that have some of the similiar characteristics of those that have been treated for home groundwater drainage issues, are likely to also experience home drainage issues.
I have indicated in many articles within this blog on home drainage, the things to look for in new construction sites, foundations, rain drain systems, new homes, existing homes, and lawn areas, to name a few. I have spoken about the need for investigation of the crawlspace areas, and the post-beam structure of your home.
The proper time to do home drainage correction work is anytime your home has a home drainage problem. The work will cost less and be more effective however, if it is done prior to the damage being done. If the work is done prior to the damage being done, and you have no groundwater to deal with, you are way ahead of the person who has the hand excavated french drains, installed after the groundwater is already in the crawlspace or basement, and saturation and hydrostatic pressure already exists.
The person with saturation and hydrostatic pressure to that degree, must experience a longer time for the wet areas to dry out after the groundwater entry is stopped, or perhaps at best slowed down in the beginning in this example, because of the saturation that already exists. Once wet, it doesn’t take much groundwater weight to keep some groundwater coming in, until the scales tip toward the possitive as you remove groundwater from the foundation area which reduces the saturation weight and leaking.
It is similiar to recovering from surgery. It takes longer to recover from the surgery, than the time and money for the doctor to accomplish prevention methods associated with the illness, which would have prevented the surgery. Read this site for additional information on groundwater removal methods and problems.