When water is an issue, it can cause a lot of hectic problems for a home’s foundation once it makes its way in. This makes it important to be on the lookout for any water or any signs of damage that water can cause. However, if you see yourself in an unfortunate situation where your foundation is at risk of water contact, then there are a few fixes that you can implement to avoid foundation problems.
Raise Any Sloping
If your property slopes down to your home, then you will have a higher chance for water to pool around the home and soak down to the foundation and enter through existing cracks. To prevent water from flowing towards the home, ensure that sloping is done away to ensure it avoids your home. By adding a swale or raised bank, the water will be diverted away.
Maintenance may be required to ensure no erosion occurs and so that other homes nearby are not affected. Incorporating a more environmentally safe method, such as a French drain will help eliminate the water buildup.
Apply Foundation Waterproofing
By maintaining a dry foundation, you are ensuring that there will be no sign of moisture that may accumulate. A good fix to prevent water is to have your foundation waterproofed. You can have the foundation waterproofed from both the interior and exterior of the foundation. This waterproofing will create an envelope around the foundation to keep it sealed.
Connect Downspouts and Gutters
When it rains, it will drain off of the roof and pool around the foundation as it soaks through the soil. In order to avoid this, your home should have downspouts and gutters connected to the roof.
You need to ensure that your downspouts are extending out enough so that water can be redirected. Also, ensure that the downspouts and gutters remain clean and free of debris from trees.
Remove Large Bushes and Trees
The roots of large bushes and trees that are near the house can grow towards the foundation and cause the foundation to crack and crumble. Be sure that the home’s plumbing is also fine. When issues with the plumbing and foundation arise, then the trees or plants will need to be taken out.
Fix Cracks that are Diagonal
When time goes by, temperature changes, and movement occurs, your foundation may eventually crack. But when the cracks are diagonal, you will need a structural engineer to assess the damage so that other issues can be avoided
There are many possible issues that can creep into a diagonal crack, such as salt and water attacking wood and steel material. By fixing diagonal cracks, it is a suggestion that a foundation has settled due to other bigger issues. This includes a foundation that has sagged but without any other issues occurring. If any other issues do continue, then underpinning may be needed for the foundation.If a crack exists in the foundation, then you can expect to see a crack in the walls above.
Conclusion
When you make fixes to avoid problems with the foundation, you can assure that the foundation will last for a long time. If you have any other type of problems in the foundation, then you should be in touch with us today to get it rectified quickly.
