| Post
Foundation Repair Tips
To
make repairs last, the property owner must
change the conditions that caused the problem.
Soil swelling can usually be stopped by cutting
off the moisture supply. Plumbing leaks are
major causes of soil swelling. If water leaks do
occur, they must be repaired immediately to
prevent damage to the foundation.
Poor drainage near the foundation is
another cause of soil heaving. The owner may
have to regrade his lot to make sure rainwater
drains away from the foundation. Downspouts for
gutters should carry water well away from the
foundation and there should be no places where
water ponds near the house during rains.
Regular lawn watering during dry periods helps
to prevent edge settlement caused by soil
shrinkage.
Post foundation repair tips are just like the
items mentioned in Maintaining
a Foundation.
Follow these suggestions to minimize the chance
of a reoccurrence of your foundation problem or
for new problems developing. Also, discuss these
items with your foundation repair contractor who
makes your repairs.
From Maintaining
a Foundation:
In dry periods the soil adjacent to the
foundation should be watered to maintain
constant moisture. Proper watering is vital, the
purpose is to keep the soil water content next
to and under the foundation at approximately the
same moisture content.
The use of a soaker hose is most often the best
solution and the soaker hose should be used
24"-36" from the house. Ron Davidson
at Ram Jack Distribution, a foundation repair
product distributor in Ada, Oklahoma notes that
in many cases homeowners have waited too long
before watering and cracks have already occurred
in the soil.
July, August, and September is when cracks in
the soil often appear. You want to have
initiated a watering program long before this so
the cracks do not appear.
Some of the other
maintenance issues:
Drainage- it is imperative ground surface
water drains away from the foundation. Surface
water should never be allowed to collect around
the foundation. Annually inspect the ground from
the foundation out at least five feet
immediately following a rainstorm. If there is
water ponding against the foundation this
situation must me corrected by regrading the
area.
Downspouts should be directed away form the
house and the water should discharge 3-4’ away
from the house at a minimum
Vegetation- Trees such as Cottonwood,
Weeping Willow, and Mesquite have extensive
shallow root systems that remove water from the
soil. The Department of Housing and Urban
Development suggests trees be planted no closer
than their ultimate height. Plants with large,
shallow root systems can grow under a shallow
foundation and, as the roots grow in diameter,
produce an upheaval in the foundation beam.
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