We have all seen the damage that can be done to homes when their foundation is compromised. The best way to prevent this from happening is by following some simple tips for keeping your home’s foundation in top shape. This blog post will offer twelve tips that you can use to keep your home safe and avoid costly repairs down the line.
Establishing timed sprinklers and foundation watering systems: Overwatering your foundation is bad, but that doesn’t mean that you should not water it at all. Establishing a timed sprinkler system and foundation watering systems can help your plants get the water they need while also keeping moisture in the soil.
Plant ground cover: Using low-growing shrubs around your foundation will provide some much-needed support for its base as well as protect it from erosion by absorbing excess rainwater before it has time to damage anything beneath them. Some good choices include star jasmine, creeping thyme, English ivy, and vinca.
Mulch around your foundation: Like plant ground cover, mulching will help absorb excess moisture that can cause the soil to become too moist for healthy growth. However, it also serves another purpose in protecting against insects like termites which feed on wood-based products. Soil amendments are also beneficial since they promote better drainage for plants by adding organic matter to the substrate surrounding them. This makes it easier for waterlogged soil, which is often found near foundations due to poor grading or excessive rainfall.
Plastic edging should be used around flower beds where you have added these types of soil amendments instead of simply using a regular border because proper support is needed if there’s going to be any weight bearing down on it.
Raised flower beds: By creating a raised bed, you can improve drainage and protect your plants from soil erosion which can cause foundation damage. For sloped terrain where the ground is not level, this type of arrangement will allow water runoff to move away from your home’s foundation instead of pooling beneath it or eroding into its base over time. Ensure that any materials used for constructing the border (such as wood) are treated with an exterior grade sealant since they’ll be constantly exposed to moisture to prevent rot and insect infestation.
Stabilize slopes near your house: If there is excess soil sitting against your foundation because it has been washed away by heavy rains or other forms of precipitation, it can be difficult to prevent further erosion from occurring. To remedy this situation, you should stabilize slopes near your house by dumping large amounts of gravel or using retaining walls at least three feet high, and that extend underground into deeper soil for extra support.
Concrete patios: If you have an excessively sloped yard that tends to pool with water whenever it rains, creating a concrete patio instead will help you prevent foundation damage due to excessive moisture build-up against its base. This type of surface also protects plants below so they don’t die during winter months, where temperatures often drop low enough that snow accumulates and washes away topsoil and other organic material that might contain nutrients.
Building up soil around your foundation: Most of the time, it is not erosion that causes foundations to become damaged but rather a lack of proper drainage for excess water in an area where there’s already poor grading or low-lying ground near homes. Building up soil along its base will ensure that any rainfall or snowmelt has somewhere safe to go instead of flowing against its surface and causing flooding when you get too much at once during stormy weather. This also reduces the amount of moisture seeping under your home, which can cause mold growth and attract vermin-like insects who feed on decaying matter such as termites and carpenter ants.
Keep gutters clean: If you have rain gutters, it is essential to make sure they are clear of any debris so that water can flow through efficiently instead of remaining stagnant, which might cause the growth of mold and mildew over time. This will also prevent them from overflowing during heavy rains or snowmelt when too much precipitation seeps against your home’s foundation at once since this excess could end up causing damage due to flooding (or even roof collapse in extreme cases).
Trees near your house: It may seem like a good idea to plant trees around your property because their foliage provides shade, but there are situations where you should avoid doing this if possible. Trees with shallow root structures can be hazardous for homes built on sloped terrain because they could cause erosion over time as their roots search for water. This can lead to pooling around your foundation and the possibility of shifting, if not outright collapse, due to its heavyweight against a weakened surface that is no longer supported by soil or other material underneath it.
Be careful with landscaping: If you choose to plant shrubs, flowers, grasses, etc., make sure that any materials used are native plants since these tend to be sturdier than others and will adjust better when exposed to extreme conditions such as drought or too much moisture near foundations. Also, avoid using gravel walkways because it does not absorb water from precipitation well. This can lead to flooding and erosion.
Keep stairs sturdy: You should also make sure that any sets of exterior staircases used as access points are properly supported with foundation anchors when they’re installed. These could literally tear away from the surface where it has been attached due to excess pressure over time unless proper precautions have been taken beforehand. One way around this problem is by attaching them on either side of your door, so they sit against more soil or even premade slabs if possible since these offer better support than an open hole dug into the ground near foundations.
Fixing problems right away: It is always better to address any foundation issues you might have as soon as possible because they usually only get worse over time instead of getting better (and more expensive). This means finding a specialist with experience with the type of property you own, so your home can retain its structural integrity for years to come.
It is vital to keep your foundation in top shape to prevent any issues from occurring over time. This means ensuring your gutters are clean, avoiding planting trees near the property if possible, and making sure landscaping materials are native plants that adjust better than other types of foliage when exposed to conditions like snow or drought. You should also be careful with how wide apart stairs attached on exterior walls sit against soil because these could tear away without proper support underneath them since they’re held up by just one side instead of two (and more). It’s always best to address foundation problems as soon as you notice something off about it, even though there may not be any significant damages.