DIY home guide: Summer
How to protect the value of your property, cut energy costs, avoid costly repairs, and spiff up your surroundings all summer.
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The soil around your house should slope down from the walls so that rainwater runs away from your foundation. After a storm, look for puddles near the house. Saturated soil around the foundation can lead to rot and mold within your walls.
The solution: Re-grade the area with a garden rake.
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Last updated January 28 2011: 5:22 PM ET
