AD | Problems with your home’s foundations may mean expensive repairs and can cause cracks and leaks in your home. Leading foundation solution specialists share with us below the early warning signs that can indicate problems with your home’s foundations and also suggests preventative measures to ensure you don’t end up with cracks and leaks in your home.
Knowing the early warning signs of foundation troubles can head off problems that ultimately could cost a small fortune to fix. The sooner you identify potential problems, the easier and less expensive it is to fix them.
Houses settle over time and a little unevenness isn’t cause for panic. At the same time, you’ll want to be alert to these warning signs that more dramatic changes aren’t taking place:
- A door begins to jam or fails to latch
- Cracks appear in the wall, especially doorways, windows, or where walls meet ceilings
- Cracks open in vinyl or ceramic tiles over a concrete floor
- Windows that used to open and close easily suddenly begin to stick or won’t close completely
So, how can you prevent cracks and leaks in your home?
- Drain water away from your house
Don’t allow water to collect near the house as the soil can expand dramatically and put stress on your foundation walls.
- Implement proper grading
Proper grading ensures that water doesn’t directly reach the base of your house and foundation walls.
- Plant tress and shrubs away from your home
It’s wise to plant trees far away from the house as during a dry season, tree and shrub roots will compete with soil for moisture. This can cause your foundation to settle unevenly and form cracks.
- Maintain moisture levels
It’s important to keep the foundation moist in order to avoid the soil from shrinking, especially during dry periods.
- Embed the foundation
Keep a proper amount of compacted soil around the foundation to help the soil retain its moisture content during the dryer months.
Foundation problems can cause a number of issues, with initial issues include cracks and leaks. I hope the above information helps prevent serious complications with your home’s foundations and it provides you with some clear warning signs to be on the lookout for.
Fraser’s Fun House 