Foundation damage is one of the most significant and costly mishaps that can happen to a home. A few cracks, an unsettled base, or weak concrete can add up to severe and expensive repairs.
When you have a foundation problem, you’ll know from the ensuing damage, but it’s best to avoid the issue altogether by being familiar with the biggest threats to your home’s foundation. Here are the most common ones homeowners encounter.
1. Overwatering
Unless you’re in a drought, overwatering is pretty common, particularly in areas where the weather is unpredictable. It’s awfully easy to water your lawn, then let the rain drench it a few hours later.
Too much water can cause the soil to expand, which puts pressure on the foundation and damages the concrete. It’s best to check the weather often and set up a schedule for irrigating so as to avoid watering too much during certain parts of the year and too little during others.
2. Plumbing Issues
Plumbing leaks are another major problem that can affect your foundation, particularly if there’s a problem with the main line. A sizable leak will seep into the soil that surrounds your house, and can even cause your foundation to shift.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to detect a leak in the main line or your sanitary sewer. Too often, homeowners don’t know it’s happening until they notice the resulting structural issues.
However, there are a few telltale signs to watch for because they strongly suggest there’s a problem with your plumbing.
3. Tree Root Invasion
Tree roots themselves are not the direct cause of foundation damage. Instead, it’s their effect on the soil that can cause major foundational issues.
Through both transpiration (evaporation of water from plants) and overgrowth, tree roots can dehydrate and shrivel the soil beneath the foundation, which will cause the structure to settle and shift.
The solution is to keep large trees near your foundation well watered and to have tree roots inspected periodically for overgrowth. As long as your trees have enough water, they shouldn’t create a problem with the soil.
4. Poor Drainage
Possibly the most common form of foundation failure can be due to improper drainage. A home that lacks gutters or has downspouts pointing in the wrong direction will create oversaturation of the soil, and the foundation will become unstable as a result.
The landscaping around your home should also slope away from the foundation in order to reduce the risk of water pooling around the concrete. Aside from the normal and almost inevitable settling and cracking in a home, basement leaks are also a major concern when drainage is not happening properly.
5. Inferior Construction
Everyone hopes that the contractor who built their home followed all the proper building codes, but sometimes that turns out not to be the case. Some contractors will try to cut corners to reduce operating costs and raise profits.
They may use insufficient steel and substandard concrete, which sets up the conditions for weakness and shifting. When you’re building a home or fixing problems of this kind, it’s best to seek the help of a contractor you can trust to do the job right the first time around.
6. Unprepared Ground
Proper compaction of the building pad before construction begins is essential for a solid foundation in the home. Slab-on-grade foundation needs solid, dependable topsoil in order to possess the capacity to support a structure.
An inadequate layer of firm topsoil is an all-too-common source of settling. Again, if you’re building a home or need to correct this problem, make sure that your contractor has the knowledge and credentials to address this issue.
7. Seasonal Conditions
In areas of the country where the weather changes dramatically across the seasons, you can have legitimate concerns about the foundation of your home. The switch from wet to dry season and vice versa can entail swelling and shriveling of the soil beneath the foundation.
The seasonal changes in the Midwest can be particularly brutal on soil; homeowners are encouraged to have their foundation inspected at every seasonal transition to check for premature damage.
8. Remodeling Gone Wrong
Sometimes the foundation can be affected by home renovations if you’re doing it yourself or handed the work to an inexperienced contractor. Major remodeling projects can actually shift the balance of your house, and allow the foundation to move, which in turn may cause damage to the concrete.
Always consult a certified contractor, the blueprints, and the city before making any major structural changes to your home.
9. Poor Soil Conditions
There can also be an issue when you build on areas with expansive clay soils that expand and desiccate as water comes and goes. These clay soils are prominent in the Midwest.
They’ll swell when wet, and then shrink when dry. This constant shifting in the ground below a concrete foundation may involve excessive settling and shifting of the foundation, which can obviously result in damage to your foundation.
10. Invasive Landscaping
Beautiful landscaping is an important part of raising property values and increasing curb appeal, but it can also damage your foundation if you aren’t careful. When you’re planting trees and large bushes, it’s best to keep them at least five feet away from the structure.
Small plants are fine, but the larger ones may have roots that can interfere with the moisture levels below your home, and cause shifting.
11. Bad Swimming Pool Installation
Inferior installation of a swimming pool, whether indoors or outdoors, can lead to water seepage into the soil around the foundation. The expansive soil that’s so pervasive in Oklahoma will absorb the water, for example, and then put excess pressure on a home’s foundation.
When the water evaporates, the soil will deflate, and potentially cause the concrete to crack. Before installing a swimming pool, share your concerns with the contractor, and make sure he or she has a plan to prevent this from happening.
The Answer: Call Edens Structural Solutions Today!
We have 30 years of experience in leveling and repairing foundations, and we’re confident that your structural issues are nothing we can’t handle. We’ll not only repair your damaged foundation, but we can also source the cause of the damage and make the necessary repairs so you don’t have to deal with it again.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation!
