Protecting Your Foundation - 9 Easy Tips for a Stronger Home

Ensure your foundation is strong and sturdy.

Your home's foundation is its rock-solid support system, but without proper care, it can crumble under the weight of time and external factors. In this article, we'll explore the key steps you can take to prevent foundational repair problems, saving you from costly and stressful renovations down the road.

In this guide, we will explore the ways for Protecting Your Foundation - 9 Easy Tips for a Stronger Home. Let’s dive right into it. 

Tip 1: Waterproof Your Foundation to Avoid Water Damage

Water damage is a common problem for foundations, and it can cause expensive and severe damage. We recommend waterproofing your foundation before that happens. The damages from water are mostly cracks on the foundation walls, shifting, and they ultimately weaken the structure of the wall. 

Proper waterproofing from an experienced waterproofing expert can prevent these issues and keep your foundation safe from water damage. Residents in Kansas City turn to PierMagic for their waterproofing needs.

Tip 2: Be Aware of the Surroundings

To keep your foundation safe and secure, you need to be mindful of the surrounding elements of your foundation. For instance, avoid planting bushes, shrubs or vegetable plants near your foundation. 

And in case you do want landscaping around this area, make sure the plants/shrubbery are small and not consuming too much water. The reason is that tall and large plants often require much water. And to have that amount of water near the foundation can weaken it and cause severe damage. 

Tip 3: Fix Minor Issues Sooner

Often homeowners tend to ignore minor cracks or fractures on their foundation. This is a big mistake and can cause much bigger problems. The first reason is that even smaller cracks can cause water damage, weaken the foundation and cause lots of other issues for the foundation. In addition, often smaller cracks are the culprit behind much larger problems. 

Addressing those cracks promptly and getting expert help can help fix the issues. At the same time, they are less expensive and easier to repair. 

Tip 4: Built the Habit of Regular Checkup and Monitoring

Regular checking and monitoring of your foundation is of utmost importance to keep your foundation at a premium state for a long period. By conducting a routine checkup, you can identify and address the issues. At the same time, they are easily repairable and can cost a lot less.

By monitoring, we mean you should look for any visible cracks - big or small, uneven floors, bulging walls, etc. In addition, you should notice that if any doors or windows are having a hard time closing or fitting properly, this is also a sign. 

These signs can help you identify the problem before it worsens over time and save you from expensive repairs.

Tip 5: Maintain the Soil Moisture

To maintain the optimum state, you must ensure that your foundation is not too wet or too dry. You need to maintain a neutral soil moisture state to ensure your foundation is safe.

For instance, you must keep large plants and trees away from your foundation. Due to the reason that the amount of water required for large plants can damage your foundation by making it too wet. 

On the other hand, if your foundation gets too dry, that is also a problem. If you find your foundation too dry, especially in the dry seasons, you need to water it to maintain the moisture and to keep them from cracking. 

Tip 6: Implement Proper Foundation Grading

This is a crucial step to ensure the foundation is safe and does not require repair frequently. Foundation grading refers to the slope of the soil around the foundation. The grading is responsible for directing the water from the house. 

A good foundation grading ensures that the water flows away from the foundation rather than pooling around it. To ensure your grading is optimum, make the slope downward and away from the foundation at a gentle angle. 

Tip 7: Ensure Only Quality Products Are Used on the Foundation

When building or repairing the foundation, always opt for quality products from reputable foundation repair companies in your area. Don't try to save some bucks and risk your foundation. From the initial construction to the repairs or renovations, always let your contractor know that you only want top-quality products used on your property. 

The products may include concrete, sealants, membranes, etc., offering much impact resistance and durability over time.

By maintaining the material quality used on your foundation, you can easily minimize the risk of foundation damage and increase the lifespan of it.

Tip 8: Install Proper Gutter and Drainage System

Installing a proper gutter and drainage system is an important step toward safeguarding your foundation. A gutter is used to collect rainwater and flow it away from your home's foundation. If a proper gutter system is not implemented, the rainwater can accumulate near your foundation and cause severe issues.

Installing proper drainage and gutter ensures the rainwater flows away from the house without getting in touch with the foundation. 

Tip 9: Conduct a Yearly Foundation Inspection

Scheduling an annual foundation inspection can be a wise investment toward your property. It can save you from bigger expenses in the long run.

When you hire an expert company like PierMagic for a yearly inspection, they can identify and address potential issues that can occur sooner or later. During the assessment, experts will assess the foundation from all possible aspects and identify any cracks or potential repairs that can be addressed promptly. 

Detecting the issues early allows for timely repairs, prevents larger expenses and gives you the peace of mind that your foundation is in a great state. 

In short, protecting the foundation from all kinds of damages or repairs should be one of the highest priorities for all homeowners. By implementing the tips discussed in this article, you can ensure the foundation is in good shape and safeguard your home and family. 

Finally, a secure foundation is something all home deserves and something that you don't want to take risks with. This is why we recommend a yearly inspection to find any potential issues that might be coming towards you. If you're in the Kansas City area, and are beginning to experience any foundation concerns, reach out to PierMagic for a free assessment.  Call us at 816-765-4800 or complete this form at https://www.piermagic.com/Contact.