Monday 9 July 2012

The Best Method To Protecting Your Home's Foundation

By Brad Wilson


Doesn't matter how expensive or fancy your home is; if it doesn't have a solid foundation, it can easily be ruined. On the other hand, you wouldn't wish foundation repairs on yourself either as it is often even expensive even for the least of problems. This is why you must do everything you can to protect your foundation from any problems.

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. Watch closely for cracks and breakages. 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. It is often easy for debris to reduce this clearance and allow 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- Ensure that the slope around your home always force water away from the foundation.

Look for Pools of Water- After a rainstorm, check for any pools of water that might have built up around your foundation. If the place is dry and no rain is expected for a while, you can use a garden hose to spray various points around the house. If on the other hand, you see some pools of water, scoop out the water and fill the area with dirt so it doesn't happen again.

Search For Any Changes- You'd be surprised what can affect the drainage on your property. It can be changed by your neighbor 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- Map out some time to thoroughly clean your gutters. Remove debris and other dirt and ensure that all the fasteners and fixings are in good condition. You can then use garden hose to see if they are correctly pitched.

Check Your Downspouts- Your downspouts are also as important and must be taken care of. Check for leaks, missing industrial fasteners, and make sure they are properly directing water away from your home's foundation.

Monitor Your Foliage- While those climbing vine may be so beautiful on your outdoor, they may be restricting proper airflow around your foundation. Your foliage can also trap excess moisture against your house, which is not good for your foundation.

Water Your Foundation- While foundations don't need too much water, they don't need too little either. 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.

To effectively protect your foundation, you need to prevent excess moisture and dryness, ensure your gutters and downspouts have no holes and check its surrounding once in a while. Taking these simple steps can prevent your foundation from cracking and breaking and can save you a lot of money in repairs.




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