You should never compromise with the foundation of a building. Compromising with the foundation of any building will lead to severe damage. The building will crumble to pieces if the foundation is weak. Once the foundation is damaged, you will have to bear lot of monetary damage as well. The foundation of a building can be damaged due to a number of reasons.
Some of the common factors of foundation damage are extreme temperature, earthquake and tree roots. One of the major factors that can shake the foundation of your house is water. Accumulation of moisture can weaken the base of your house. This is why you need to find out, how to keep water away from house foundation.
Rain, snow and pipe bursts allow water to seep through the foundation of the house. The water expands the saturated soil and allows it to shift from its original position. Accumulation of water creates a pressure on the walls of the foundation.
Leaks and cracks occur as a result of the pressure. Water gets enough space to penetrate through the leaks and cracks and causes mold growth, electrical hazards and finally damage the structure of the house. So, unless you find answer to how to keep water away from house foundation, you cannot save your house.
A Study on How to Keep Water Away from House Foundation
Here are some tips that can help you find out how to keep water away from house foundation.
- First of all, it is very important to repair your property at the right time. You need to make your property leak proof. This will not allow water to penetrate through the foundation and make it weak. Keep a check on the walls and roof of your house. If you notice any crack on the walls, do not delay in repairing them. Make sure no water is trickling from the roof. The plumbing system of your house should be kept in good condition. If you find standing water around the foundation of the house, try to remove it immediately. Leaks around bathroom, sinks and toilet should be repaired.
- A good drainage system can keep the foundation strong. Proper grading around the foundation is essential. The soil should be sloped at a level of 6 inches around the foundation. If this is not the case, you should add clay soil to the area. This will prevent moisture from getting accumulated around the foundation. Building a French drainage system will make the water flow away from the foundation.
- The gutters in and around your house should be clean. Remove any kind of debris and leaves to allow the free flow of water. The gutters should be checked regularly to avoid clogging. The downspouts around your house should be drained 10 feet away.
- The next step is to keep a regular check on the soil around the house. You should not let the soil dry out. This will make the soil expand the next time it rains which in turn will create pressure on the foundation. It will be a good idea, if you do not plant trees around the foundation of the house. The trees tend to take away all the moisture from the soil and leave it dry. This is also a reason for cracking the foundation.
- Always keep a check on the basement of your house. Basement floods can pose great danger to the foundation of the house. It is a good idea to use a sump pump to dry out the water during floods. The sump pump drains the excessive water into dry-wells or sewage lines.
These are the answers to how to keep water away from house foundation. These steps will help you protect the foundation of your house and will also save your time and money.