Water is your home’s worst enemy. From your rooftop to your landscaping, properly dealing with water runoff is the best way to prevent costly damage to your home’s foundation. Proper drainage protects your home and prevents expensive repairs.
Poor drainage creates several foundation issues. Fortunately, you can fix most of them.
What Causes Poor Drainage?
Gutters
A gutter system is designed to take the rain that falls onto your roof and carry it away from your foundation where it can do no harm. When gutters are clogged, damaged or missing altogether, that rainwater pools near your home’s foundation or on the roof.
Landscaping Irrigation
Poorly designed landscape irrigation also causes problems with many foundations. Overwatering saturates the soil, and sprinklers placed too close to the house add even more to the moisture. When water cannot absorb quickly, it collects around the foundation.
Incorrectly Sloped Lot
Your yard should slope away from your home, not toward it. When a house sits on a poorly graded lot, water flows straight to the foundation instead of draining away. And when heavy rain hits, it only makes the issue worse.
Foundation Problems Caused by Poor Drainage
Foundation problems occur when water pools near your home, and the problems are the same regardless of the water’s source. You may notice:
- Water pooling around the home
- Cracks in your foundation or walls
- Sagging floors
- Sticking doors
- A musty or moldy smell
Depending on the soil type, the house may begin to sink since wet soil is softer than well-drained soil. As the weather alternates between wet and dry, the foundation may be forced out of the ground in areas with clay soil, a process called heaving. This is what can cause those cracks and uneven floors.
Prevention of Foundation Damage
You can prevent many drainage problems with simple steps:
- Clean your gutters regularly
- Repair damaged or sagging gutter sections
- Install gutters if your home does not have them
- Adjust your irrigation system to avoid overwatering
- Keep plants at least three feet from the foundation
- Install French drains to redirect water on sloped lots
These actions protect your foundation and extend your home’s lifespan.
How to Fix Your Foundation
Foundations affected by chronic drainage problems are reparable. The first step is to identify and eliminate the source of the water. After the soil has dried out, a foundation repair company can begin the work of inspection and repair. The type of repairs you’ll need depends on your foundation’s type and how extensive the damage is. While you may be able to address the source of the water and remedy it yourself, foundation repairs are best left to professionals.
Professional foundation repair companies have the tools and experience to repair your foundation quickly and efficiently whether your foundation is only cracked or has completely given way. Most importantly, hiring a professional ensures your foundation is safely and expertly repaired. Plus, many homeowner’s insurance policies do not insure botched DIY projects, whereas professional home repair and remodeling companies are insured against those types of problems.
If you notice these signs that your home’s foundation has been damaged due to poor drainage, it may be time for a professional inspection. Generocity Foundation Repair can offer best-in-industry inspection and repair, helping homeowners stabilize their properties and prevent long-term damage. Contact Generocity Foundation Repair today to schedule your free estimate.
