Tips on Properly Maintaining Your Home’s Foundation
Your home’s foundation is one of the most important aspects of your property. Yet, many homeowners fail to give as much attention to their home’s foundation as they do to their interior. Without a strong foundation, your house will develop structural issues, which can cause major damage to your home.
Proper maintenance is crucial for keeping your foundation in good condition. There are certain preventative measures that can help strengthen its core, and here are a few tips to follow:
- Make sure your plumbing is okay – Give your plumbing system an annual checkup, so no leaks develop in your walls and cause damage. If you see signs of pipe damage and leaks, have them remedied immediately to prevent further damage and expense.
- Watch out for minor cracks – Cracks, no matter how small, means that those parts of your home are weakening. Minor cracks say, “I need filling,” while major cracks may need major repair or renovation. If cracks are left untreated, they will inevitably deteriorate, so pay attention.
- Have a proper drainage system – Too much water and moisture on and near your foundation and walls can be very damaging. Make sure you have a proper drainage system in place, like downspouts and gutters. Make sure your drainage system directs water away from your home’s foundation.
- Avoid planting trees near your home – It’s fine to plant trees in your garden, just not too close to your home. Aside from tree branches having the potential to damage your roof and windows, a tree’s roots can crawl underneath your home and cause shifting and moisture collection.
- Maintain proper moisture levels around your house – This means keeping the dryness and wetness of the soil around your house at a consistent level. Too dry can cause expansion and contraction of the soil, which can cause shifting and may affect your home’s foundation. If the weather is too hot, have a sprinkler system installed that will moisten the soil a bit.
Have your foundation checked by a contractor – If in doubt, have a professional annually check your foundation and point out any needed repairs.
Unique Properties
Tulsa Real Estate
Call us: 918-760-6959
