A strong foundation is the most important part of a physical building. It is where every part of your home rests on, from the roof, walls, and floors, requiring it to have a durable base to withstand anything. Without a solid foundation, a house becomes dangerously unstable and unsupported. A weak foundation leads to serious casualties and irreplaceable structural damages that may even cost lives.
While a home’s foundation is the most important part of your property, it is often the most overlooked component of the house. Since most homeowners get so fixated on their interior and curb appeal, it’s easy for them to forget about its presence. Yet, it plays an essential role in keeping everything together, from its occupants, rooms, and furniture.
Meanwhile, construction companies are pushing their efforts to provide the most durable cement option for residential use. Some even offer Life Deck cement for decorative and waterproofing options to ensure smooth concrete work on interior systems, overlays, loft living, pool decks, and residential properties.
Sadly, many homeowners only look after their foundations if something went wrong. But waiting for this to happen can be too late for preventive maintenance or DIY intervention. A house foundation should be stable enough, so it makes sense to keep it safe and crack-free to protect everything in your home. To ensure a safe and stronger living space, here are some basic ways to maintain a house foundation.
Check the plumbing system
Maintaining your home’s plumbing system is one of the important steps in maintaining the foundation. In most cases, the plumbing in your home goes straight towards the foundation since it connects all water fixtures and drains the sewer systems and water supply. During construction, the sewage and plumbing systems are prioritized first before pouring the concrete foundation.
Like other parts of a home, there comes a time when the plumbing becomes badly damaged because of weather and old age. If any of the plumbing components inside the foundation starts to crack, it will eventually lead to leaks, causing serious damage. As a result, the water supply loses its path which causes pressure build-up that forces the foundation to crack.
This is the reason annual plumbing maintenance is a must. Aside from leaks, moldy walls, low-faucet pressure, and pooling water are clear signs of plumbing problems. Although leaks aren’t always noticeable, it’s important to provide immediate attention to them to prevent bigger issues in the long run.
The best way to identify hidden damages and leaks is to turn off water-based systems and appliances around the house. Check the reading on the water meter for any inconsistencies after six hours. For extra measure, hire a professional plumber for a thorough inspection.
Smart landscaping
Believe it or not, plants not only improve the aesthetic qualities of your home but also keep the soil intact that helps in preventing landslides and erosion. But this doesn’t mean you should surround your foundation with any plant you can find, because bad landscaping can weaken the foundation.
The root system of shrubs and trees can potentially consume the underground foundation. It will compete with the soil to get more water, leading to shifting, uneven dryness, or worse, foundation failure.
To maximize the uses of landscaping, avoid planting trees and shrubs near your home. If the tree’s branches and shrubs can touch the house, so do their roots. So before planting anything around a foundation, make sure the plant is far enough to prevent potential dangers.
Maintain proper drainage
As innocent as it looks, water damage can lead to serious consequences on a foundation. But aside from poor plumbing, a poor drainage system also contributes to the cause. If the soil around a property doesn’t properly expel or accept moisture from aquifers and rainwater, it causes the soil to shift, leading to undue strains on the home foundation.
During dry seasons and summer months, homeowners have a habit of using garden hoses to freshen the soil. Although this approach is proven effective, you need to ensure regular maintenance to prevent drying of the soil. But over-watering is also risky, as it leads to more damages to the foundation. A great tip is to provide the right amount of water to keep the soil and plants healthy.
Otherwise, if the soil becomes too wet, it can lead to excess moisture buildup. To prevent this, check all downspouts and gutters and ensure if the water gets redirected away from the house. You should also clean the gutters to prevent blockages.
Establishing a strong home foundation is a job that calls for utmost care. Keep in mind that foundation repairs cost thousands of dollars, and you don’t want to spend for something you could’ve avoided early on. But like other parts of your home, you can easily eliminate such issues with proper care and maintenance. Following the steps above can get you started to ensure a stronger foundation for your home and avoid costly repairs.