The spring freeze/thaw cycle means things are on the move. Things you don’t want to move. Concrete heaves, asphalt buckles, retaining walls shift and bricks crack. The expansion/contraction process caused by ice/snow melting during the day, and then re-freezing at night, can put a tremendous amount of pressure on surfaces and structures.
There are many factors you can’t control. Temperature changes and moisture levels, primarily. And many construction components are impossible, difficult or just too expensive to correct, such as material selection, elevation changes, soil conditions, or rooflines and architectural design.
What you can review and correct, however, is drainage patterns that bring the water to critical areas and surfaces. Some common scenarios:
- Rooflines dropping water onto stoops or sidewalks
- Downspouts directing water into retaining walls or landscaping
- Downspout extensions that may be too short
- Gutter capacity/inefficiencies
- Poor grading causing water to pool
- Street curbing issues preventing water flow to catch basins
- Cracks or holes in asphalt/concrete where water can collect
You are never going to solve all drainage problems. Nor can you eliminate the freeze/thaw cycle. But being proactive by reviewing drainage, and sometimes getting a little creative to redirect it, can save money and extend useful life on various components. Now is the time to spring into action!
