A damaged foundation can cause many problems to your home, including cracks in sheetrock and brick, plumbing leaks, and the sticking of doors and windows. Regular maintenance of your home and improving any potential problems can help you reduce problems and prevent any significant damage to your home’s foundation.
Downspouts
When water collects around the foundation, the moisture can soak into the foundation, causing it to swell. Once the standing water begins to dry, the drying process can cause the foundation to shift. Over time, the repetition of this soaking and drying can lead to a cracked foundation.
Having a proper gutter system can be a huge help to preventing this type of foundation damage. Installing a downspout from your gutter that points anywhere from 5 to 10 feet away from your home, depending on the soil type. This will help keep water from standing near your home’s foundation by directing the flow further into your yard.
Fix Grading Issues
The grade of the soil around your home references the coarseness of the type of soil used and how it slopes in your yard. By having an improper grade around your home, you may get standing water near your foundation and in your yard. Much like having a proper gutter and downspout system, adjusting the grading around your home can help avoid foundation damage.
By adjusting the slope of the soil in your yard away from your home, you reduce water damage to your foundation and prevent erosion of the soil. If your yard has a major slope or an inverted grade towards your home, contact a professional for help.
Watering the Foundation
Heavy drought can take a devastating toll on a home’s foundation. When a clay-based soil becomes extremely dry, it leads to the cracking and contracting of the ground. Once this soil becomes moist again, the soil expands, and the cracks fill, which can shift the foundation and lead to severe damage.
The addition of a soaker hose around the perimeter of your home is an excellent way to prevent the effects of drought on a foundation. This hose will keep the ground moist without using a significant amount of water in the area, which is ideal for areas with water restriction guidelines.
Install a French Drain
Creating a drainage system in your yard can help flow water off of your property and keep it from standing. By pairing a drainage system with your home’s downspout, you can keep your foundation from becoming damaged by excess water in your yard.
French drains are a great solution to this problem. French drains are an underground drainage system that takes water away from your property preventing any standing water from causing damage to your home’s foundation. This drain uses a gravel-filled trench with a piping system that fills up with water and carries it to the designated spot away from your home.
Perform Routine Plumbing and Foundation Inspections
One of the best ways to stop any severe damage to your home’s foundation is to schedule regular inspections with a plumbing or foundation inspection specialist. By having your home inspected regularly, you can find potential problems early and fix them before they become serious problems.
Performing regular maintenance on your home is an excellent way to prevent further damage to your home’s foundation. If you are in need of any foundation repairs or would like to schedule a foundation inspection, please contact the specialists at Ram Jack of Texas today.
