Did you just buy a new home? If so, congrats! No doubt you want to keep your home safe & sturdy for many years to come.

If so, one of the most important parts of your home you should protect is its foundation.

As a new homeowner, how can you maintain your new home’s foundation so you don’t have to worry about structural damage in the future? Here are a few ways to do it!

 

Regular inspections

Like with your physical health, regular check-ups on your foundation are also important. Damages to your foundation are not immediately noticeable and often occur in places we don’t usually pay attention to. So depending on how old or new your house is, remind yourself to check around your property for things such as:

Cracks and gaps

Door and window jambs

Pests and critters

Too much moisture

Odd smells in your basement or crawl space

Learn more here

 

Have a good drainage system & keep water away from your home

Believe it or not, water can significantly affect your home’s foundation. A poor drainage system can cause water to pool around your home, causing the soil to absorb too much moisture and make it expand. This, in turn, puts pressure on your foundation and can cause it to crack and shift.

So make sure to maintain your drainage system, schedule annual plumbing inspections, make sure your gutters are clean and that your downspouts are facing away from your home. 

 

Maintain consistent temperature

Your home’s temperature can also affect your foundation. Having too much moisture in your home, not only causes mold but can also cause your home’s structural materials— concrete, wood, drywall, etc.— to contract and expand and can cause your foundation to settle.

Keep an eye on your soil

If there’s a leading factor that contributes to your foundation’s structural integrity, it’s the soil around your home. After all, it’s literally surrounding your foundation underground. That’s why having the right kind of soil is extremely important.

Moreover, it’s also important to keep an eye on your soil throughout the year. Don’t worry, it’s not as tedious or boring as it sounds. If you’re already into gardening, you probably know a thing or two about this already.

As the weather and seasons change, your soil can contract and expand. As a result, it can either loosen around or put too much pressure against your foundation and cause it to shift, crack, and settle.

 

Be smart about your landscaping

Speaking of soil, your landscaping also affects your foundation. So before bringing your dream garden to life, make sure to be smart about your landscaping. Because tree root systems can grow extensively underground, it’s a good idea to keep them a few feet away from your foundation to prevent them from causing soil shrinkage.

Get help from the experts

Of course, it’s always better to get tailored assessments and advice from trusted experts.

You can learn about proper foundation care on our blog or contact us for  a free estimate.