March Home Maintenance To-Do’s: Inspect Foundation Drainage, Walkways, and Driveways

The month of March—when temps are beginning to rise but before those April showers—is the ideal time to get down and dirty with those maintenance projects, says J.B. Sassano, president of Mr. Handyman, a commercial and residential repair, maintenance, and improvement franchise. March “home maintenance projects can extend the longevity and improve the quality of your home, inside and out,” he says

To keep rainwater out of your home’s basement or crawl space, check your foundation drainage to make sure that the ground slopes away from the house on all sides. For proper drainage, the soil around your home should follow the “6 in 10” rule: six inches of ground slope in the first 10 feet next to the house foundation.

If you have gutters on your house, make sure the downspouts have extension pipes or splash blocks on the ground at the bottom to direct any rainwater away from your home.

Winter is also tough on concrete and asphalt—freeze and thaw cycles can break apart stone and concrete. You’ll want to seal cracks with sealant made for the specific material of your driveway or walkway to prevent further damage.  You can stuff foam backer rods in large cracks to reduce the amount of sealant you’ll need.

You can DIY with helpful YouTube videos, or hire a handyman to repair cracks and holes that will generally cost anywhere from $100 to $250.

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Photo Credit: Le Do / Shutterstock.com