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Water is a precious commodity but it’s also one of the single biggest enemies to a home – especially water produced from rain or melting snow. Poor drainage around a home will cause soil to erode or swell around the foundation. Either situation can cause problems and create cracks over windows and doors. Plus an excess of moisture around and beneath a house will also threaten siding and framing members under the house, causing them to rot and deteriorate. You can prevent this by installing roof gutters and downspouts and keeping them clean. Make sure downspouts discharge away from the foundation or into drainage pipes carrying water away from the house. Soil or concrete surrounding the home should always slope away from the foundation to minimize damage.