Prevent Severe Foundation Damage

Home and business owners who neglect their foundation issues face a greater risk of severe and expensive damages to their property. There are a number of factors that can cause foundation issues to a home or business, such as plumbing issues, soil extraction, and drainage issues. Foundation repair is not always cheap, with the national average of repair costs sitting just short of $4,000. Some unfortunate property owners sometimes have to pay as much as $10,000 to have the necessary repairs made. However, with all the common foundation problems that can happen, there are certainly some effective ways to help prevent them from happening in the first place.

We put together some tips to help home and business owners prevent severe foundation damage.

Drain Water Away From The Building

Whether a residential or commercial building, it is important to avoid the pooling of water near the foundation. When water is present it can cause the soil to expand, putting stress on the walls of the foundation. Downspouts are effective at directing rainfall and roof runoff away from your foundation and property. If your building does not have downspouts, it is wise to purchase and install them to avoid any future issues. In addition, ground drains can be installed to help move pooling water to a discharge point. These are sufficient at eliminating accumulated water in areas near the foundation that could be a potential threat.

Ensure The Foundation Is Watered

In order to maintain a building’s foundation, it is important to ensure the soil around the structure does not get too wet or too dry. When soil becomes too dry, it expands and contracts which can cause cracks in the foundation. Further contracting will make a structure’s foundation unstable. By implementing a watering system you can prevent the risk of damage from expanding and contracting soil. In warmer and drier climates, it is important to keep the foundation watered. There are many ways to water a foundation. From something as simple as a garden hose or sprinkler to something as complex as a lawn sprinkler system or underground foundation watering system, there are various methods that can be used to keep the dirt around a structure slightly moist. Extra foundation watering should be done during the drier months of the year.

Implement Proper Foundation Grading

If the landscaping of a property slopes towards the house, the foundation walls are susceptible to damage. The landscaping needs to slope away from a structure to redirect water from the walls of the foundation. Proper foundation grading will ensure that water will not reach the base of a structure and it’s foundation. Experts recommend grading the soil about six inches per every ten feet. If a property does not allow for this sort of foundation grading a french drain can be installed to help keep water away for the base of the structure.

Keep Trees and Shrubbery Away From The Building

During dry conditions, trees and shrub roots will begin taking moisture out of the soil. If these roots are near the foundation walls, it can cause the surrounding soil to expand and contract, causing the foundation to sit unevenly and form cracks. In addition, stronger roots near a foundation can also cause your foundation to shift or crack. If you plan on placing plants near the structure, be sure they are smaller and have non-invasive roots. In order to avoid any severe foundation damage, it is best to plant trees away from the structure of a residential or commercial property.

If you already have large trees near your foundation, there is no need to worry. The best solution is to have a root barrier installed around the structure of the building. This will help prevent tree roots from reaching the foundation walls.  

Ensure The Foundation Is Embedded

When the soil around a foundation is tightly compacted it better retains moisture content during the warm and dry months. Foundation experts recommend trying to embed a foundation up to two inches from the top of the foundation slab. In addition, mulch can be placed around the foundation to help retain moisture.

Have Plumbing Inspected Annually

One of the biggest causes of foundation damages is plumbing problems. Plumbing leaks, especially leaks under foundation slabs, can occur in sewer and freshwater lines, sprinkler systems, and other parts of a plumbing system, leading to severe foundation damage and costly repairs. If you ever suspect or notice signs of a plumbing leak, you should consider contacting your plumber to perform an inspection. Regardless, plumbing should be inspected yearly to ensure it is properly maintained and working.

Place Concrete Structures Strategically

If you add any concrete features, such as driveways, landscaping paths, or walkways, near the base of a building, it is important to place them strategically so that they direct water away from the foundation. Placing these features in improper areas can lead to flooding near the foundation. In addition, unthoughtful designing of new concrete construction could potentially cause an imbalance in the foundation.

Maintain Moisture Levels

In order to prevent the soil from shrinking, it is important to maintain soil moisture levels, especially in hot and dry climates. Rock beds can be installed to help a sprinkler system water the deeper areas of the soil. We recommend placing them about two feet away from the foundation. These beds will help retain moisture in the soil around a foundation and prevent it from cracking.

Ensure Quality Foundation Products Are Used

One of the best ways to prevent foundation problems from happening is ensuring that the foundation is constructed properly to begin with, using high-quality piering materials and products. Using cheap, unreputable products to build a foundation will only lead to further problems down the road. From foundation anchors to helical piles, you want to ensure the materials you use are durable and high quality.

Following the tips about can help prevent future foundations problems for both residential and commercial buildings. Preventing foundation problems starts with the build, and the build is only as good as the products and materials used by a foundation contractor. Quality materials, like the steel piling products from MAGNUM® Piering, are essential to building a durable, long-lasting foundation. As the industry leader in manufacturing high-quality steel piling products, MAGNUM® Piering has the products you need for residential and commercial building foundations. Our products are installed by hundreds of qualified foundation contractors. To learn more about foundation repairs and piers, contact a MAGNUM® team member.