The foundation is the single most important part of any home. While every other aspect from the windows to the rooftop matter a great deal to how complete and comfortable a home is, without a stable condition the house will simply fall apart or sink into the mud. However, not all foundations are equal. Especially in regions with clay-rich soil.
When most people think about foundation maintenance and repairs, they think structure, walls, and cracks but when it actually comes to preventing this foundation damage, your concerns should be all about moisture. Foundations sink, rise, and shift as the ground expands or contracts with water which means controlling the water on your lot is by far the best preventative measure.
Clean Gutters and Spouts
Start by cleaning your gutters and clearing your drain spouts. Full gutters or clogged spouts can lead to leaks pouring right over the side of the gutter walls. Unfortunately, this is also likely to be right onto the ground around your foundation making it more likely to receive all the water your drain spouts are supposed to redirect.
Gently Sloped Landscaping
The next issue is the grade of your lot and landscaping. Water runs downhill and since you’re trying to carefully control the amount of water around your foundation, the last thing you want is for all the rainwater to gather right under your house. To avoid this, make sure that your landscaping shapes all the earth in your yards to gently slope away from the house and drain near the fence line if draining is necessary.
Install Drains Where Needed
If your yard tends toward puddles or marshy areas and there’s not a lot you can do about this, the solution to this problem is known as French drains. These are underground drains that can catch the pooling moisture in a low spot in your yard then continue to carry it off to the edge of your property.
Smarten Your Sprinkler System
Of course, preventing foundation damage isn’t just about reducing the moisture in your yard and around the house. Your soil actually needs to be maintained at the right amount of moisture or the clay aspect might dry up, contract, and cause a different set of problems. Consider connecting your sprinkler system and soaker hose to smart home features, allowing them to check the weather and only water if there hasn’t been rain so as not to make sure the foundation always gets the right amount of moisture.
Keep Root Plants Away From the House
While water may be the biggest risk to foundations, many people make one simple mistake that can also lead to major foundation cracks. Planting trees too close to the house. When those big roots start to expand, they can and will push into the entire surrounding area including the foundation itself.
Low-Water Flowers Near the Foundation
That said, many homeowners still want a flower bed and something like a garden along the base of their homes and this is only natural. The best way to go about a foundation-side flower bed is to choose flowers that don’t require a lot of water and are happy in a ground-level flower bed instead of a raised one. This way, light watering of your flowers can double as foundation watering without soaking the foundation to keep the flowers happy.
A Few Inches of Mulch
The foundation benefits from a bit of earthy bolstering around the edges and this is also a great way to tell how dry the earth around your foundation is. Consider using a few inches of woodchips which will help to regulate both the temperature and moisture of the soil that reaches down to support your foundation.
Repair Cracks Immediately
Finally, if all else fails and you do see a very small amount of damage to your foundation, do not wait. If you want to prevent costly foundation damage, the best solution is to call for assessment and repairs right away. Your local foundation expert will be able to tell you how big of a worry the crack is and how to improve your lawn care technique to keep your foundation in good shape.
For more information about how to prevent foundation damage or what to do if damage has already occurred, contact us today!
