Keystone warns hillside homes face higher basement flood risk

Keystone Restoration Group is urging south Salt Lake Valley homeowners on sloped lots to check drainage before intense summer storms hit. The firm says hillside homes in places like Draper, Sandy, South Jordan and Lehi face foundation pressure that flat-ground homes usually do not.

Why it matters: - Homes built into slopes can take on basement water faster and under more pressure than homes on level ground. - Water intrusion can damage carpet, drywall, baseboards and framing, turning a cleanup into a costly reconstruction. - Insurance coverage can surprise homeowners after a storm, especially when water enters through foundation walls, window wells or floor drains.

What happened: - Keystone Restoration Group warned homeowners on sloped and hillside lots across the south valley to evaluate exterior drainage before high-intensity summer storms. - The alert focused on Draper’s east bench and foothill neighborhoods above South Jordan, Sandy and Lehi. - Keystone said homes built into a grade face basement flood risks that flat-ground homes do not.

The details: - Water moving downhill can hit the uphill foundation wall under pressure instead of simply pooling at the house. - The water often concentrates at weak points such as window wells, utility penetrations and cold joints in the foundation. - Keystone identified four common failure points behind storm-related basement intrusion: settled grading that slopes toward the structure, downspouts that discharge within a few feet of the wall, window wells with clogged or missing drains, and sump pumps that have not been tested. - Surface water and groundwater entering through the foundation, a window well or a floor drain are generally excluded from standard homeowner policies and usually require separate flood coverage. - Water from a sudden and accidental discharge inside the home is generally covered. - Sewer and drain backup coverage is usually available only by endorsement. - Seth Saxton said homeowners on the bench should ask their agent directly whether they carry a sewer and drain backup endorsement before a storm.

Between the lines: - The warning is as much about prevention as it is about restoration. - Sloped-lot homes face a geometry problem: gravity sends water toward the foundation, and one small drainage failure can create a large indoor loss. - Insurance gaps can make even modest basement flooding a financial shock if homeowners assume every water event is covered.

What's next: - Keystone advises homeowners to test sump pumps by pouring water into the basin and confirming the float activates. - The company also recommends clearing window well drains, extending downspouts four to six feet from the foundation and correcting settled grading that directs water toward the house. - If water enters a basement, Keystone says extraction and drying should start within the first hours to reduce the chance of a full reconstruction.

The bottom line: - For hillside homes, storm prep is not optional. A few drainage fixes now can help prevent basement flooding, limit damage and avoid insurance surprises later.