It doesn't matter how expensive or fancy your home is; if it doesn't have a solid foundation, it can easily be ruined. Unfortunately, foundation repairs can often become very expensive in just a short amount of time, even for the most minor of problems that can occur. For this reason, it is essential for you, as a homeowner, to do everything you can to protect your home's foundation from becoming damaged.
The following are eight ways you can keep your foundation from costing you a ton of money in repairs.
Protecting Your Foundation
Inspect Your Home's Perimeter- Every month or so, take a walk around your home and look closely at your home's foundation. Keep an eye out for breakages and cracking. Also look at your brick, vinyl, siding, wood, and any other exterior coverings on your home are positioned at least six inches above where the foundation is located on your home. A lot of times, debris and dirt can reduce this clearance, allowing moisture to enter the top of the foundation. If this is the case, do your best to remove as much debris as possible from this area. Check the Sloping of Your Ground- The ground around your home should slope away from the foundation to allow water to flow away from the house instead of toward it. Look for Pools of Water- After a rainstorm, check for any pools of water that might have built up around your foundation. If your area has been dry for a while and no rain is expected in the near future, use a garden hose to spray various point around your house. If any pools do occur, scoop out the water and fill the holes with dirt to prevent it from happening again. Check for Changes to Your Property- You'd be surprised what can affect the drainage on your property. It can be changed by your neighbour's new landscaping, changes to your area's sewer system, or even by the phone company digging up an old underground cable near your home. Keep an eye out for changes and take steps to counter these issues. Clean Your Gutters- You should take the time, at least two times each year to thoroughly clean and inspect your gutters. Remove the leaves and debris that may have accumulated, check for cracks and holes, and make sure all of the fasteners and fixings are in place and aren't rusted. Then, use your garden hose to check the gutters and see if they are correctly pitched. Check Your Downspouts- Your downspouts are just as important as your gutters, and should be inspected at the same time. Check for leaks, missing industrial fasteners, and make sure they are properly directing water away from your home's foundation. Keep an Eye on Your Foliage- While that climbing vine may look beautiful on the outside of your home, this type of foliage tends to reduce the amount of air flow around your foundation. Your foliage can also trap excess moisture against your house, which is not good for your foundation. Water Your Foundation- While water can sometimes be your foundation's enemy, too little moisture can be as well. It can cause the foundation's spoil to dry up and shrink, resulting in cracks in the foundation. If your area hasn't had a lot of moisture recently, use your garden hose to water down your foundation every once in a while.Protecting your foundation involves preventing excess moisture and dryness, ensuring your gutters and downspouts have no holes, contain the correct bolt fasteners, and are pitched properly, and keeping an eye out for changes in your landscape. Taking these simple steps can prevent your foundation from cracking and breaking and can save you a lot of money in repairs.
Savvy Tips To Keep Mold Away From Your Basement The Truth About Crawl Space Encapsulation - What Your Building Department Doesn't Want You to Know The Truth About Crawl Space Encapsulation - What Your Building Department Doesn't Want You to Know
0 comments:
Post a Comment