Protect Your New Home From the Elements

Landscaping and Grading
There are many areas across the country that contains active soils that can expand and shrink when the soils become wet. It is critical to the success of the home's foundation to keep the soils around the foundation at a consistent moisture content level.

The builder should have provided your yard with a final grade, which is designed to drain your yard and keep excess water away from the foundation. When you landscape, you must maintain this grade, or if you hire a landscaping firm, make sure they also maintain this grade. You can protect the foundation and prevent leaky basements by:

• Keep water drainage swales and areas clear of leaves and debris.
• Plant trees at least twelve feet and shrubbery at least four feet from the foundation. This allows for a proper root system and helps keep water away from the foundation.
• Do now allow sprinklers and sprinkler systems to wet the area within four feet of your foundation or cause puddles near the foundation.
• Keep the watering of shrubbery and plants near the foundation to a minimum. Keep in mind that under your warranty you are responsible for maintaining the proper grades that will help keep water away from the foundation.

Condensation
During the construction of your home, gallons of water were used in the foundation, basement floor, paint and even in the bathroom grout. Daily use of the home also creates moisture, so dampness in a new home is unavoidable. About one year should be allowed for your home to "cure". High temperatures of unnatural heating to help speed up "curing" can cause warping of wood products and other types of damage. You should always:

• Use exhaust fans in the bathroom, kitchen and any utility area.
• Open basement windows when it is warm and dry and close them when it rains.
• Check and adjust your humidifier, if one is provided.

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