4 Quick Tips to Avoid Foundation Issues

Until it cracks or leaks, most of us don’t think about our home’s foundation. When cracks and leaks show in your home's foundation, you’ve already created or ignored problems that damage foundations. Here are a few tips to help keep a foundation happy and healthy.

1. Foundation Grading

Poor soil excavation can direct water toward the base of your house and through foundation walls. Make sure your yard is graded at least 6 inches per every 10 feet so soil slopes away from your house. How do you check the slope? Use a level. Put one end where the ground meets your foundation wall, and level the tool. 10 feet is enough to move water away from your foundation with proper slope.

2. Check your Downspouts for Drainage

Downspouts should direct rain and roof runoff away from your house.

Extend the downspout 8 feet away from the house. You can buy extenders if you need to extend the drainage or bury a downspout diverter and drain the water to the curb, a storm drain, or to a spot in your yard where the water will percolate into the soil.

3. Saturate the Soil during Dry Seasons

Avoid letting the soil around your house completely dry out and shrink during the dry season. When soils dry out the contract and the load of the home is less supported by the soils against the foundation. During dry seasons, it is recommended to run a soaker hose around your house until water saturates at lease 3-4 inches into the soil to help settle large variance and stress load from expansion and contraction which can ultimately lead to stress cracks in the foundation.

4. Check Trees Near the Foundation

Tree and shrub roots can compete with your soil for moisture during drought, causing your foundation to settle and sink unevenly. When that happens, drywall can crack and windows and doors will stick in their frames. To prevent a war for water, plant deep-rooted trees and shrubs away from the house. As a rule of thumb, if the branches can touch the house, the tree is too close.

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