A damaged foundation can be quite expensive to repair. It is often best to take preventative measures to minimize the risk of any damage taking place. With a little forethought, any homeowner can ensure that their foundation remains in good repair for many years to come.

The key element in any plan to maintain a foundation needs to be moisture control. The chief cause of most damage to foundations is soil that is either too moist or too dry. Maintaining the proper moisture levels in the soil underneath your home is critical if you want to avoid any problems.

During a long, dry period in San Jacinto City, homeowners therefore need to spend some time watering the soil near their home. If the soil dries out too much, it can shrink and crack. This means that more strain will be put on the foundation, potentially leading to serious problems.

There is generally no reason to install a special system just for watering your foundation, however. Just using a hose or sprinkler should be enough. In addition, these systems can sometimes cause more problems than they solve.

If you experience a significant storm or a long rainy period, the combination of the rainwater and the watering system can actually make your soil too moist. This can be just as damaging to your foundation as soil that is not moist enough.

Taking steps to ensure that your soil does not get too wet is also important. The two primary sources of excessive moisture in the soil beneath your home are rainwater and leaking pipes. To avoid the latter problem, have your plumbing inspected regularly to make sure that there are no leaks.

When it rains, the water can collect near your foundation, causing the soil to swell or heave. This is a common cause of problems with a home’s foundation. To ensure that water does not pool next to your home, make sure that your yard is properly graded so that water drains away from the house rather than towards it.

Gutters and downspouts also need to be properly sized to direct rainwater away from the home. In areas with sandy soil, downspouts should be a minimum of five feet in length. Areas with more expansive soil need even longer downspouts of at least 10 feet. Gutters also need to have sufficient capacity to handle heavy rains.

In some cases, regrading your soil may not be enough to prevent water from collecting near your home. There are other solutions that you can try, though these may be more expensive. For example, a moisture barrier can be installed in the soil to maintain proper levels. These barriers should extend at least five feet beneath the surface.

French drains and swales can also be used. Talk to a professional landscaper to see what the best solution for your San Jacinto City home would be. By taking a preventative approach, you can make sure that your foundation does not suffer any damage that would require expensive and time-consuming repairs.

We also serve in these areas:

Angleton
Baytown
Bellaire
Clute
Conroe
Deer Park
Dickinson
Freeport
Friendswood
Galena Park
Galveston
Houston
Humble
Katy
La Porte
Lake Jackson
League City
Mission Bend
Missouri City
Richmond
Rosenberg
San Jacinto City
Santa Fe
South Houston
Spring
Stafford
Sugar Land
Texas City
Tomball
Webster
West University Place

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