Picture the scene; you’re returning home after a long day out and the only thing on your mind is a bit of peace and quiet, so what exactly is the last thing you need? A flooded basement, leaking pipes, and a sinking floor. No matter how great your insurance cover may be, the stress and effort going into fixing such problems are definitely one to be avoided at all costs.
Never the right time
Sorting out a foundation problem is easily an issue pushed to the back of our minds. Life gets in the way, and other things take prior importance. At the end of the day, such a task won’t be on the top of our list until it has to be. Quad cities foundation repair stresses the importance of ensuring we are never in that position, by always acting as soon as we see the earliest signs of foundation issues, rather than pushing our luck and hoping for the best.
Will it happen to me?
At some point, most homeowners will inevitably see some sort of damage in their homes that points to the foundation as the cause. Some of these include;
- uneven floors
- cracked walls
- buckled walls
These are signs to always watch out for, in order to prevent a bigger issue.
How to avoid foundation damage
When buying a property, whether as a first-time buyer or an experienced connoisseur of the housing market, it is vital to be aware of the condition of your foundation, so that you’re in the know of any preexisting conditions. Here are a few tips on how to avoid any new damage.
Get out that ladder
Although it might seem odd to clean out over your head to maintain a good structure beneath your feet, one of the main things to do to keep a strong foundation is to clean gutters out. This is due to the fact that clogged drains can cause leaks that go right down the side of your house, landing onto the ground around your foundation.
Mud to the rescue
Get your hands dirty by surrounding the earth around your foundation with some mud. Creating some natural bolstering and insulation around the edges will keep your foundation stronger for longer. This mud will also act to help the foundation from going dry in hotter months. Planting flowers and plants around the base can also add a layer of protection by deflecting wind and rain erosion.
Garden smarter
Water settling around the base of your home is sure to cause some issues. However, altering the landscaping around your home can be an easy fix to redirect that water away from the base. Consider a gradual terrain change letting gravity work its magic. The best way to do this is to have the ground slope away from the foundation for several feet.
Drain the rain away
If water does settle in pools around the foundation of your house, it can cause the soil to expand. This has the knock-on effect of putting more pressure on the foundation walls. A good way to stop this from happening to you is to create in-ground drains.
