How To Properly Maintain Your Foundation
Introduction to Foundation Health
A home’s foundation is its most critical structural component, and proper foundation maintenance is essential to prevent costly repairs. Foundation health is crucial for the overall stability and safety of a home, and regular inspections can help identify potential issues before they become major problems. A well-maintained foundation can save homeowners money in the long run by preventing foundation repairs and ensuring the home remains in good shape.
Proper drainage, consistent moisture levels, and a sound drainage system are essential for maintaining a healthy foundation. Homeowners can take preventive measures to maintain their foundation, including performing regular inspections and addressing minor issues promptly. By staying proactive, you can ensure your foundation remains strong and stable for years to come.
You are probably already familiar with the typical warning signs of a damaged foundation (and if you aren’t, you should read our article about it). However, did you also know that most foundation problems can be prevented if you do proper foundation maintenance?
Of course, you should always let a team of foundation professionals handle the bigger jobs so as not to put yourself or your house at risk. Still, there are plenty of things that you, as a diligent homeowner, can do to keep minor issues from turning into big (and expensive) headaches.
How To Properly Maintain Your Foundation
You are probably already familiar with the typical warning signs of a damaged foundation (and if you aren’t, you should read our article about it). However, did you also know that most foundation problems can be prevented if you do proper foundation maintenance?
Of course, you should always let a team of foundation professionals handle the bigger jobs so as not to put yourself or your house at risk. Still, there are plenty of things that you, as a diligent homeowner, can do to keep minor issues from turning into big (and expensive) headaches.
Poor drainage and excess water around your home can lead to significant foundation issues. Ensuring a positive slope around your home is crucial for proper water drainage. Additionally, improper grading can be corrected by adding fill dirt to level the slope and direct water away from the foundation.
Tree roots can cause severe damage to your foundation. It is important to avoid planting trees too close to the foundation to prevent root intrusion.
Plumbing issues can also affect your foundation. Implementing an automatic sprinkler system can help maintain consistent moisture levels around your home, preventing cracks and other foundation issues.
During dry periods and excessively wet conditions, it is essential to address a cracked foundation promptly to avoid further damage.
Causes of Foundation Problems
Foundation problems can arise from various sources, and understanding these causes can help you take preventive measures. Poor drainage and excess water around the foundation can cause foundation problems, including foundation upheaval and damage. Ensuring proper drainage around your home is crucial to prevent water from accumulating and causing issues.
Tree roots from large trees can grow under the foundation, causing cracks and shifting. Installing a root barrier can help prevent this type of damage while allowing you to keep your beautiful trees. Plumbing issues, such as leaks and poor water control, can also lead to foundation problems, resulting in costly repairs. Regular plumbing inspections can help detect and address these issues early.
Improper grading and a negative slope can cause water to accumulate around the foundation, leading to foundation damage. Ensuring that the ground slopes away from your home can prevent this problem. Additionally, dry periods and excessively wet conditions can cause the soil to contract and expand, putting pressure on the foundation and leading to foundation trouble. Maintaining consistent moisture levels around your foundation can help mitigate these effects.
7 Tips For Proper Foundation Maintenance
The following tips will help you properly maintain your foundation:
1. Regular Foundation Inspections
There’s no better way to find problems than to go looking for them. When it comes to your foundation, that’s exactly what you want! Performing regular inspections will allow you to catch any foundation issues while they’re still in the early stages. It is important to perform regular inspections at least twice a year, focusing on both the exterior and interior of your home. This will save you lots of time and money when you choose to repair them.
A thorough inspection around your property, looking for any signs of water damage or cracks, should be enough to avoid any major problems and costly repairs. Remember to also inspect the interior of your home (especially the basement if you have it) for cracks on the walls and ceiling. If your doors or windows are also hard to close properly, that’s another sign of trouble. All of these can be a sign that your home might be shifting too much, and that needs to be addressed. If you find any signs of foundation issues, it is crucial to seek a professional opinion to prevent expensive repairs in the future.
2. Fix Any Known Plumbing Issues
Plumbing issues mean moisture and unchecked moisture means trouble for your foundation. The worst-case scenario for plumbing issues is an undetected leak that saturates the soil surrounding your foundation with water. This can result in foundation cracks if the soil presses too hard against it or cause your home to shift too much in one direction (which can cause structural damage.) Scheduling a thorough plumbing inspection can help identify potential leaks before they lead to severe damage.
Have your pipes and fixtures inspected three or four times per year to detect any plumbing leaks that might be spilling water near your foundation. Even a slow leak can make the ground too damp and soft to properly support the weight of your home, but it also wastes hundreds of gallons of water every month if left unchecked. Addressing plumbing leaks is critical to prevent severe foundation damage and costly repairs..
3. Install A Root Barrier In Your Yard
While trees can be a beautiful addition to your yard, it’s important to understand the risks posed by their roots and how to prevent them. One of the biggest issues that homeowners with trees in their yard face is root penetration. That is, growing tree roots can reach the home’s foundation and cause all sorts of damage.
As you know, tree roots grow unpredictably and can be almost three times as long as the tree’s canopy; this means that if a tree’s canopy has a 10-foot radius, then its roots can easily surpass 30 feet in length! Large tree roots can grow significantly beyond the tree’s canopy radius, potentially leading to foundation problems if not properly managed. Drop the ax, however; installing a root barrier can help you avoid root penetration of your home’s foundation while keeping your beautiful tree alive.
A root barrier is a piece of material made to separate tree roots from your home’s foundation to prevent root damage. Root barriers can be made from various materials, including thick rubber, and should be installed at a depth of at least three feet around the foundation to effectively protect it from extensive root growth. A professional should be able to install a root barrier between your foundation and the offending tree in just a couple of hours.
4. Make Sure That Your Yard Goes Downhill From The House
No matter where you live, you do not want your house to be at the bottom of a hill. Why? Well, if your house were to be at the bottom of a slope where all the water that runs from the hill converges (also called a “drainage point”), then floods and water damage would be a constant problem for your foundation. For example, after a heavy rainstorm, the soil surrounding your home can become so flooded that the water might flow back toward your foundation. Having a good drainage system is crucial to prevent water pooling around the foundation and causing potential damage.
If you find out that the ground around your home does slope towards your foundation, the good news is that you can level the slope away from it. How? Well, the process is to simply use dirt to fill the low parts of the slope around your home and then grade it little by little. Installing a French drain can significantly improve drainage around your home’s foundation. Additionally, using surface drains as a solution can help prevent drainage problems and maintain the integrity of your property. Unless you have plenty of experience doing this kind of job, we highly recommend hiring a professional to do it on your property.
5. Maintain A Steady Temperature Inside Your Home
Constant temperature fluctuations year after year can make your foundation expand and contract. As a consequence, cracks might appear on your foundation. To prevent this, keep your home’s temperature and humidity levels as consistent as you can through the years, which will minimize the damage done to your foundation. Maintaining a steady temperature is crucial to prevent the concrete slab from expanding and contracting, which could lead to foundation damage.
If you’re leaving on vacation, you might be tempted to just turn the thermostat off, but this can cause extreme temperature changes that will do more damage to your foundation. Instead, leave it on a low setting so that the temperature never goes below 40 F or above 100 F. Slab foundations are particularly susceptible to thermal fluctuations, so maintaining a consistent temperature is essential to protect their integrity.
6. Keep A Consistent Moisture Level In Your Yard
As we’ve mentioned above, the soil around your foundation will contract and expand as the moisture levels change and it gets flooded or dries out. However, did you know you can fight moisture with moisture? Most foundation cracks actually appear when the soil dries out and contracts. If the soil becomes exceedingly wet, it can also lead to significant structural problems. In order to prevent cracks from appearing on your foundation, keep a consistent moisture level all around your yard by using your sprinklers or a hose all through the year, particularly during the drought season or right as the rainy season ends.
There are also more specialized solutions to this problem. You could install an underground foundation watering system, which makes sure that the soil around your foundation is always evenly moisturized at just the right level. Excess water from plumbing issues can lead to potentially softening the soil, compromising the stability of the foundation. Implementing a water control program, such as an automatic sprinkler system, can help maintain consistent moisture levels and prevent foundation damage.
7: Give Proper Maintenance To Your Gutters And Downspouts
We have talked before about the vital role that your gutters and downspouts play in protecting your foundation from water damage. Well, proper maintenance of your gutters will ensure that their utility doesn’t give out and continue to provide proper drainage for your home. After all, blocked gutters and downspouts cannot properly divert the water away from your foundation. Maintaining clean gutters is crucial to ensure they can do their job correctly, preventing potential water pooling around your home.
Make sure that you clear out all the dead leaves, twigs, and other debris out of your gutters and downspouts to prevent the water from pooling around your home (and then filter straight through your foundation. Also, make sure that the water being diverted away from your foundation actually follows the slope on which your property is built, or it will flow back directly to your home.
Identifying Foundation Damage
Identifying foundation damage early can save you from costly repairs down the line. Warning signs of foundation damage include cracks in walls and ceilings, doors that don’t close properly, and windows that are out of line. Homeowners can perform regular foundation inspections to identify potential issues, including checking for signs of foundation damage and moisture accumulation.
A professional inspection can help identify foundation problems, including hairline cracks and structural issues that may not be immediately visible. Foundation cracks can be a sign of foundation damage, and addressing them promptly can prevent costly repairs. Homeowners should be aware of the signs of foundation damage and take preventive measures to maintain their foundation.
Preparing for Seasonal Changes
Different seasons can bring different challenges for a foundation, and preparing for seasonal changes can help prevent foundation damage. Homeowners can take steps to maintain consistent moisture levels around their foundation, including using an underground foundation watering system or automatic lawn sprinkler. These systems ensure that the soil around your foundation remains evenly moisturized, preventing it from contracting and expanding excessively.
Proper drainage and a sound drainage system, including gutters and downspouts, can help prevent water accumulation around the foundation. Ensuring that your drainage system is functioning correctly can protect your foundation from water damage. Homeowners should be aware of the potential for foundation problems during dry periods and take steps to maintain a consistent moisture level.
Regular inspections and maintenance can help prevent costly repairs and ensure the foundation remains in good shape. Keeping a foundation log can help track maintenance and repairs, making it easier to stay on top of your foundation’s health. By preparing for seasonal changes and maintaining consistent moisture levels, you can protect your foundation from damage and ensure your home remains stable and secure.
Trust Above All Foundation Repair For All Your Foundation Needs
Following these tips will make sure that your foundation has many, many healthy years ahead of it. However, if you notice any worrying signs that your foundation might be already giving out, call a professional to perform an inspection right away! Hesitation will only give the existing foundation damage more time to expand, which can lead to more problems down the line. Addressing foundation issues promptly is crucial to prevent severe damage.
Nobody wants to deal with the cost and inconvenience of a damaged foundation. If you find yourself in that situation, call Above All Foundation Repair right away! We are a team of certified professionals with years of experience and the latest inspection and repair tech. We’ll give your foundation the care it deserves — reach out today to schedule an inspection!
