6 Tips to Protect the Foundation of Your Home

It’s easy to forget about the foundation of your home, especially since you can’t see it. However, if damage is caused to your foundation, you will more than likely experience damage to the rest of your home. Even the fanciest of properties can crack and leak if they are not built upon a solid foundation. Unfortunately, the repair costs don’t come cheap. That’s why it’s very important that you do all you can to protect your property. We have put together some tips for you:

1. Avoid planting trees too close to your house. Although plants and shrubbery are lovely to look at, particularly during the spring and summer months, unfortunately the roots can damage your foundation.
2. Water the trees around your home. If you fail to water the plants that surround your property sufficiently they could potentially soak up the water in the soil around your foundation and cause it to shrink.
3. Ensure you have appropriate drainage. Every once in a while, make sure you clear away any debris that may have collected in your gutters to ensure that water flows through them correctly. They move rain water away from a foundation and if they become blocked, the overflow may cause damage.
4. Check for pools of water after rain. If water collects after there has been substantial rain, clear it away and fill the area with dirt or gravel. This will control the moisture.
5. Monitor changes in the area. Consider how any construction work in the area that could interfere with the foundations of your own property and take the necessary measures to counteract these problems.
6. Water your landscape during summer. When the sun is out and the rain becomes infrequent, we recommended watering the land around your property to prevent the soil drying up and shrinking. This could cause your foundation to move and cause cracks in your walls.

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