05/30/2026
Home owner tip:
Most homeowners know they need to clean their gutters, but they completely overlook where that water actually goes.
The Problem: Short downspout extensions drop thousands of gallons of rainwater right next to your foundation. Over time, this saturates the soil, causes it to expand or erode, and leads to cracked foundation walls, bowing, and wet basements or crawlspaces.
The Fix: Ensure your downspout extensions carry water at least 6 feet away from the foundation wall, dumping it onto a downward slope. Spending $15 on an extension piece today can save you $10,000+ in foundation repairs down the road.