Preventative Maintenance
Simple, proactive steps that can extend the life of your foundation.
Protect Your Foundation Year-Round
Have Fresh Water And Sewer Lines Tested
One major cause of foundation damage is excessive moisture from broken or leaking water/sewer lines. Water saturated soil will not support most foundations indefinitely unless the foundation is secured to the bedrock. Have a plumber do a static test on your lines every five years. Much water damage goes unnoticed because the moist soil may be out of sight. Don't wait for problems to develop!
Begin A Scheduled Water Program
Though too much water is dangerous, so is too little, especially in dry regions of the country. Moisten soil around the foundation during dry times with a soaker hose or sprinkler system. Do this when you are watering the lawn or if you notice soil pulling away from the foundation.
Install Positive Drainage
Over saturation can occur from ordinary rainwater if excess water is not channeled away from all sides of your home. Installation of devices such as debris-resistant gutters and French drains will go a long way towards protecting your biggest investment…your home.
Possible Future Problems Resulting From Delaying Repair
Irreversible Damage
Even with warning signs evident, it's perfectly natural to put off foundation repair and hope the problems go away. They won't. Left unattended, minor fixable problems almost always get worse leading to irreversibly damaged slabs or beams. This kind of major damage can also be repaired, but at a much higher cost.
High Repair Costs
Not only does a broken slab or beam incur high repair costs, but so does the accompanying cosmetic work. Often, your house will have suffered extensive exterior and interior injury as a result of a damaged foundation. This only adds to the cost of restoring your home to its old self.
Lower Resale Value
If you intend to sell your home someday, the price will be substantially less with a damaged foundation. Some buyers actually look for damaged foundations in order to secure a lower selling price. Even after full foundation and cosmetic restoration, it might be difficult to convince a buyer that the foundation is truly fixed without a lifetime guarantee from a reputable contractor.
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