Tips for keeping your foundation in good repair

The foundation of your home provides essential support to the entire structure. If your foundation is put under too much strain, it can easily become damaged. This can cause all sorts of problems for the rest of your home, and may eventually require you to have your entire foundation replaced.

 

Replacing a foundation is a lengthy and expensive process, so it is better to take precautions to avoid some of the most common issues that can arise. By doing so, you can keep your foundation in good shape and avoid any serious damage to it.

 

In most cases, foundations become damaged because the soil underneath them becomes uneven. This is usually the result of changes in the moisture level of the soil. If the soil dries up or becomes too moist, it can shrink, swell, or heave, putting strain on your foundation and causing it to crack or break.

 

If you live in an arid climate, or if your area is suffering from a drought, it is important to keep your soil moist all year. The best way to do so is simply to water it with a hose on a regular basis. Installing a special system just to water your foundation makes it too easy for the soil to become too wet.

 

In most cases, problems are caused by soil that is too wet rather than too dry. It is important to make sure that your soil is properly graded so that water drains away from the house, rather than towards it. It should slope downward so that water runs off rather than collecting in puddles near the sides of your home.

 

After it has rained, go outside and inspect the exterior of your home. If you see that a lot of water has pooled near your foundation, this can indicate a problem with your grading. You need to address this problem right away before any more damage is done to your foundation.

 

It is also important to keep rainwater away from your home by making sure that your gutters are large enough to collect and carry away all the rain that falls on your home. If your gutters are too shallow, the rain can pour straight down the side of your house onto your foundation.

 

Your downspouts also need to be long enough to carry the water well away from your home. Try to install downspouts that are at least 8 to 10 feet long. If they are any shorter, you run the risk of letting water run back towards your home when it rains. Check your gutters and downspouts regularly to make sure that they have not become clogged with leaves, dirt, and other debris that can block the flow of water.

 

By keeping these tips in mind, you can avoid many of the most common causes of damage to your foundation. Keeping a close eye on the moisture level in your soil is of the utmost importance. Doing so will help you avoid many expensive repairs.