5 EASY WAYS TO MAINTAIN YOUR HOME’S FOUNDATION

Let’s talk about foundation maintenance. Your foundation is an important part of your home, even though you don’t see it. It literally supports you, your house, and everything in it (yes, that means your beloved couch and tv too!).

It’s sad that most people only think about their foundation when they start to notice something’s wrong. But by then, taking preventative measures will be too late, and the cost is higher too. 

So how can you properly maintain your home’s foundation so you won’t have to go through tedious repairs, or worse, replacement? Here are 5 easy ways to do it.

 

1. Schedule an annual plumbing inspection. 

“Why plumbing?” you may ask. Believe it or not, plumbing leaks are one of the biggest causes of foundation damage. 

But water leaks are not just bad for your foundation, it can also damage other parts of your home (and not to mention your wallet from the water bills too). Catching leaks early can save you money, and your foundation too. 

It’s good to check your sewer lines, plumbing system, and portable water lines for leaks. But just to be sure, have a professional plumber inspect your plumbing, even just annually.

 

2. Fill and monitor minor cracks. 

Emphasis on the word minor. If you’re noticing bigger and wider gaps or cracks, then it’s time to call a professional. 

But if the cracks are minor, it’s still good to monitor them. You can even take note of where they are and their length. Then check every couple of months to see if they’ve grown longer or the gap has grown wider. 

You can also fill them with mixtures designed for DIY concrete repair or epoxy glue. Then monitor them again for changes in length or width. Again, if they’ve become big gaps, call a professional for help.

 

3. Monitoring and inspecting your foundation. 

When seasons change, the soils shift around your foundation too, putting pressure and loosening around it. It’s good to remember to check on your foundation when the weather starts to change too, especially if it's dry or extremely wet. 

When trying to inspect for foundation damage, check if you see: 

  • Sticky doors and windows (or ones that won’t close/open properly, like they suddenly don’t fit anymore)
  • Slanting floors 
  • Cracks in your walls, floors, around doors and windows, and stairs
  • Sagging roofs

 

4. Make sure you have proper drainage.

When you do a lot of watering or if the water is rainy, too much water can cause damage to your foundation and affect the soil around it. 

Make sure your drainage is facing away from your foundation and there’s no water pooling near the foundation wall. Here are more tips to help you deal with water damage.

 

5. Maintain steady temperature/moisture levels.

Again, the shifting of the soil around your foundation causes the damage and cracks. And when the soil is too wet or too dry, it can affect the way it behaves and how it applies pressure on your foundation. 

Don’t allow the soil to become extremely wet or dry, and instead, try to maintain steady moisture levels. For example, during extremely warm months, you can install an automatic lawn sprinkler system or a soaker hose to keep the soil slightly moist. 

There certainly are ways to protect your foundation from damage, especially if you take these preventative measures. However, it’s also important to seek the advice of professionals so they can provide you with solutions and tips that perfectly fit your needs.

 

If you need help with your damaged foundation or want a free quote, you can call SSR at 980-250-2711.