The foundation of your home is the most important part of your house. Without a stable foundation, every part of the house can be put at risk. Typically, issues with the foundation will develop over time, giving you plenty of time to take remedial action and fix the damages. That is, of course, as long as you don’t wait too long! Below are some ways that you can work right now to keep your home’s foundation safe.
External Cracks/Breakage
Go around the exterior of your home and check the foundation. Is there any noticeable breakage or are there any cracks that are visible? How large are things like holes? Do the cracks look like they are stress cracks or something else? Are the sides of the foundation still equal distance from the ground? It is possible that you are dealing with a sinking foundation.
Slope/Elevation Around Your Home
Are there any slopes that come down to the foundation of your home? Have your neighbors recently changed the elevation of their property or have they changed how they deal with excess water? Make sure all land slopes away from the home or you risk having excess water migrate to your foundation.
Debris or Organic Matter Around Perimeter
Remove any and all debris and organic material from around the foundation of your home. You would be surprised at how many trees will attempt to grow out of a crack between a driveway and the side of your home. Don’t give them a chance.
Debris or Organic Matter in Gutters
Clean your gutters and reduce the risk of overflow sending water through the walls of your home and into your basement where it will pool and damage the foundation.
Extend Downspouts Further from the House
Many homes with excellent gutters will still see damage to their foundation. More often than not, the cause is that the downspouts are not far enough away from the house and the extra water is slowing eating away at the foundation. Install downspout extenders to carry the water further and protect the sides of your home from damage.
Heat Consideration
So far, we have reviewed a lot of options for what you should do to protect your foundation. Understand that your foundation will be suffering from wet, as well as dry periods. Extended heat and dry conditions will cause the foundation to shrink, creating cracks. As the weather changes, the soil around your home will also expand and contract, causing a force called hydrostatic pressure that can affect the foundation. It is just as important to be vigilant during hot summer days as it is during the rainy season.
Are you looking for more information about how to keep your home’s foundation safe? The Crack Doctor is here to help. Get in touch to learn more about our Ottawa foundation repair and Ottawa basement waterproofing services, or request a free estimate.
