There’s no doubt that foundation maintenance is mandatory for the safety and longevity of your home or business space. According to foundation repair experts, almost all the damages can result from neglecting foundation maintenance.
In this insightful blog post, we’ll share some crucial tips for keeping your foundation in top shape. So continue to read on.
1. Don’t Overlook Foundation Cracks
One of the most significant tips to maintain your home’s or commercial space’s foundation is to keep an eye out for any signs of foundation damage.
These damages may include cracks in the walls and wall frames, sloping floors, shifted door frames, and sticking windows. If you notice any of these signs, you must pay attention to fix them.
2. Be Sure to Redirect Water Away from Your Foundation
Another major thing to do is redirect water away from your building’s foundation. If you don’t properly direct water away from it, it may result in severe damage to your foundation.
Be sure that gutters and downspouts are clean and debris-free and that they’re taking water away from your building’s foundation so that there won’t be any sewer or plumbing damage.
3. Retain Stable Moisture Levels Around Your Foundation
You must ensure that your foundation soil never becomes too much wet or dry. Soil expansion and contraction around your foundation may lead to problematic cracks and other damages.
To moisten the soil around your structure in warmer months, you can use an automatic lawn sprinkler. However, you should maintain the moisture levels to avoid any loss or damage.
4. Focus On Keeping Tree Roots Away from Your Foundation
You should refrain from planting trees or shrubs too close to your structure’s foundation. Obviously, the roots of these plants and trees continue to grow, which can cause structural damage to your foundation.
5. Schedule and Conduct Yearly Plumbing Tests
Yearly plumbing tests are worth doing to maintain your foundation and prolong the structure’s lifespan. It’s advisable to check for leaks, water pressure, and water flows to make sure your plumbing system works efficiently.
A plumbing leak may lead to significant and hard-to-fix damages to your foundation, so early detection can save you from costly home foundation repair.
6. Don’t Forget to Keep a Foundation Log
A foundation log is an essential aspect that will assist you in keeping track of any repairs or maintenance procedures already done on your foundation. What’s more, it will provide you with a record of any changes and modifications that have occurred over time, such as cracks and settings.
Once you keep a foundation log, it will help you monitor your foundation’s maintenance needs and assure you that it stays in top condition.
7. Maintain a Balanced Temperature Year-Round
Thermal fluctuations are what cause cracks and damage to slab foundations. That’s why you should keep the temperature of your home or business space consistent year-round. Do it to prevent materials, including concrete, drywall, and wood, from contraction and expansion.
8. Incorporate a Root Barrier
Incorporating a root barrier is another most effective way to upkeep your foundation. When we talk about tree roots, they can grow deep and wide, causing significant damage to your foundation over time.
If you add a root barrier, it can help prevent the roots from penetrating the foundation of space, which can cause several damages.