Are Downspout Extensions the Answer to a Wet Crawl Space?

Downspouts and rain gutters are designed to collect and divert rainwater from the roof to protect the roof, siding, landscaping, and foundation. However, without proper sloping around the home, water can pool around the foundation instead of draining away. This pooling water around the home can cause foundation cracks, soil erosion, and even flooding in the basement and/or crawl space.

Gutter downspouts are overlooked the most when it comes to crawlspace draining. Why is that?

What are downspout extensions?

Downspout extensions, also called gutter extensions, are attachments that are placed on the end of the downspout to channel rainwater away from the foundation of the home. Downspouts must drain a minimum of 4-8 feet from the foundation to ensure proper protection to your foundation and mitigate crawl space moisture.

Are downspout extensions necessary?

Water should never be “accepted” in the crawl space. Constant exposure to standing water breeds bacteria, increases your relative humidity, and saturates your wood with water over time leading to mold growth. This in turn also weakens your wood structure and attracts termites, pests, and rodents due to the moist environment.

Given this situation, a drainage system of some kind is necessary, but what that system is depends on the structure of your home and your preferences. Regardless of the conditions within the crawl space, we are more than happy to work with our customers to develop a drainage system that works for them. As a whole, our systems are designed with the challenges of living here on the Jersey Shore in mind.

What about water that doesn’t come from the downspouts?

Downspout extensions will solve the problem of water collecting on your roof, but what if water is getting into your basement/crawl space elsewhere?

Water doesn’t only get into your basement/crawl space from the roof. Rain water can collect around the house regardless and if there’s wind blowing rain directly at the walls, this water runs directly down the side of the house.

In this case, the downspouts will need to be supplemented with other drainage solutions, like a French drain. Click here to learn more about all of our drainage & grading solutions.

When downspout extensions aren’t enough

Will extending your downspouts help? Yes. Will that be the fix for the water in your basement and/or crawl space? Probably not, as they are rarely the only solution needed. At Jersey Shore Crawlspace Enhancement, we are proud to offer downspout extensions as well as many other drainage & grading systems. We offer many different options so that all of our customers along the shore can have the home of their dreams.