Being a homeowner can be a pretty thankless job. Even as you try to make improvements to improve the look and functionality of your home, you may accidentally damage the integrity of your home’s foundation as a consequence. Learn to avoid these common ways that homeowners accidentally damage their own foundations, and what you can do to prevent them:
Tight Landscaping
Landscaping is beautiful and adds to the curb appeal of your home, but you must be careful. Do not plant trees or shrubs too closely to the foundation of your home. The root systems may invade the foundation and create pressure which threatens the integrity of your foundation. At the same time, the water requirements of these plants may cause inconsistent moisture and water levels in the soil beneath your home. To avoid this issue, always make sure small bushes are at least three feet from the home, medium shrubs are five feet away, and trees are at a minimum ten feet from your home’s foundation.
Overwatering
You know that long and deep watering is important for the health of your lawn, but overwatering can cause soil expansion (and contraction when dry). This constant movement around and under your foundation is bad news. In order to avoid this problem, consider investing in an automatic sprinkler system that delivers a consistent amount of water.
Bad Drainage
If water falls off your roof and down your gutters to pool around your foundation, it’s no good. Likewise, if the grade of your property directs rainwater toward your foundation instead of away from it, you could be in a world of trouble. To fix these issues, always make sure your gutters and drain pipes are clear of debris and in good working order. Call the experts to adjust your soil grading as well.
Renovations
When you renovate and start messing with the structure of the home, it’s possible that your foundation may be affected. Added or shifting weight can cause significant damage to the foundation of your home if renovators are inattentive or incautious. Always make sure that the foundation is taken into account when planning or building any home renovation project.
If your foundation has suffered damage due to any of these causes, The Crack Doctor can help. We specialize in solving foundation problems and putting your home back in good working order. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
