There is nothing that fills a homeowner with a feeling of dread quite like hearing that they have foundation problems in their home. It is rarely an easy fix and it often involves thousands of dollars not to mention the hassles of ripping apart your yard to get to the problem. Don’t ever wait if you think you see a faulty foundation. If you don’t fix the problem then you run the risk of your house collapsing completely. There are ways that you can avoid problems, here is how to prevent major foundation issues in your house.
Sprinklers and Watering Systems
Put all your sprinklers or watering systems on a timer and away from your house. Water at dusk and dawn so that your lawn actually gets the water it needs and it is not just flooded. Don’t water during the rain, that is one of the hazards of setting up an automatic sprinkler system.
Don’t Plant Trees Right Next to Your House
Plants, trees and shrubs all love water and their roots will go wherever is necessary to get it, including through your foundation. Even if they can’t get through your foundation they will absorb moisture from the surrounding soil and that can make your foundation shift and crack. They will also go through your pipes to get at the water inside causing blockages and leaks underground, that too can affect your foundation. You will then need to call a plumber. We recommend Dolphin Emergency Plumbers. Here is how tree roots can affect your foundation.
Keep Water Away From the Foundation
Proper grading of the soil around your home can make sure that water doesn’t pool around your foundation. You need to grade the nearby soil about 6 inches in a depth of 10 feet so water runs away from your home.
Watch the rain gutters at the same time and make sure the spout also point away from your home. When water gathers around the foundation it causes the soil to expand and that puts pressure on the wall of the foundation. Aside from grading properly you can also add some underground drains that will move water from the foundation to somewhere elses.
Maintain the Right Amount of Moisture
Homeowners and contractors too focus a lot of time and energy making sure to keep moisture away from the foundation of your home but your do need a certain amount of moisture in the soil for stability. During dry hot summers the soil can become too dry and that causes it to shrink. This too can make your foundation settle and cause cracks. You can use rock beds to help your sprinkler systems be more effective and reach the deeper parts of the soil. Not only will it keep your foundation from shifting but you will have a healthier looking lawn.
Your house needs a solid foundation, while we tend to ignore the foundation unless something starts leaking it still needs preventative care.