A foundation that begins to fail will eventually damage your home. But before it gets to this, there are warning signs you should look out for, such as wall cracks, sticking windows and doors, and separation between chimneys and the walls. Other signs of a failing foundation include leaning chimney or staircase walls and unexpected basement or crawl space leaks.
Almost every home will, over time, develop some of these problems. Because of this, it’s your duty as a homeowner to be proactive and repair such issues before they get any worse. Here’s a guide detailing foundation repair tips you need to know as a homeowner.
Schedule Regular Inspections By A Professional
You may be tempted to wait until you see signs of damage before getting an inspection, but you must never make such a disastrous mistake. Even if there aren’t any visible cracks yet, you should prioritize checking the foundation regularly. Because of this, you need to schedule regular foundation inspections by a licensed foundation repair expert. They can identify potential issues before they become serious problems that require extensive and costly repairs.
Ideally, it’s recommended to inspect your home’s foundation annually to identify possible foundation problems in advance. This way, you’ll be able to ensure that your home stays in top condition for years to come. Remember, easily overlooked issues like tiny cracks can quickly turn into major structural damage.
Repair Possible Foundation Issue Promptly
You should deal with any problems as quickly as possible. After all, the foundation problem won’t get better on its own. This is why it pays to have restorations done as soon as possible after identifying an issue. The earlier you catch a problem and have it fixed, the less expensive it will be overall.
For example, if you spot plumbing leaks in your basement, make sure you get them repaired promptly. It’s best to take care of minor repairs when they are first noticed rather than waiting until major damage occurs and you need to pay for extensive repairs or even replacement work. In addition, it’ll help repair possible plumbing issues that can later cause foundation issues. Therefore, you’ll be able to ensure that your basement stays free of mold and mildew for many years to come.
By promptly addressing foundation issues by following certain simple steps, you save yourself the hassle of needing to file for insurance claim because of foundation damage at your home.
Talk To Your Insurance
Foundation damage can be very costly, and in most cases, homeowners have to foot the bill themselves. However, this doesn’t have to be the case, as insurance companies can shoulder the repair costs. For example, your insurance company might help you pay for the foundation repair cost if the damage is due to an avoidable natural disaster such as flooding.
With that said, it’s essential to talk to your insurance agent before any repairs are made if you haven’t already done so. This will help prevent any problems down the road if you need to file a claim with them. They’ll be able to tell you how much coverage is available under your policy and whether or not it’s worth it to pay the extra money for repairs.
Work With A Trustworthy Property Restoring Company
When you have foundation issues, it can be difficult to find the right professional who’ll be able to repair and restore your property. A lot of different companies advertise that they work in this field, but not all of them are trustworthy choices. And because this area of your home is so important, you need to make sure that you are working with a reliable property restoring company. This way, they’ll get the job done correctly and know what needs to be done.
With this in mind, you should make sure the company you choose is licensed, insured, and certified. This way, you’ll be confident knowing your property is in good hands. As a result, you’ll be a lot more confident that your home will once again feel safe and secure.
Manage Your Drainage System
Water is guilty of causing many of the foundation issues. This is why you need to ensure that your home’s drainage system is properly functioning, even if you live in an area that’s not prone to flooding or heavy downpour. You need to do this because if the running water doesn’t drain properly, it can destroy your foundation by placing massive pressure on it, eventually causing cracks and other structural issues.
The best place to start is by ensuring your drainage system is in perfect condition is by looking after the gutters. This is because gutters are usually responsible for many foundation issues. Therefore, you should ensure they’re working well if you’ve installed them to avoid possible foundation problems from later arising.
Make Sure Your Home Gets Properly Graded
Improper grading of your yard is also another issue that can eventually lead to structural damage to the foundation. This happens because the soil around the foundation will, over time, start to settle or shift and pull away, creating a gap between the ground and the foundation walls. Rainwater will accumulate in this gap, causing hydrostatic pressure that leads to leaks, cracks, and bowing walls. To prevent this water damage, make sure that soil slopes away from the foundation at least 6 inches for every 10 feet of wall length.
Therefore, you must ensure that the home gets properly graded to prevent the accumulation of water, which eventually ends up causing foundation issues.
Takeaway
One of the best ways to protect the investment you have made in your home is to repair foundation problems before they get any worse. This is especially vital considering the foundation provides your home with the much-needed structural support. And to help you ensure this part of your house remains in excellent condition, this guide has outlined the various ways of repairing foundation issues right after seeing early signs of danger.