When it comes to your home, the foundation is literally what holds the whole thing together. When a foundation gets damaged by water, for example, your home has a danger of quite literally falling apart. Looking for a local water damage company that exceeds expectations is something that will be needed to be done quickly in order to protect the foundations of your home. Without a proper foundation, your home could settle into the ground, causing big problems for the structural integrity of the building and the safety of those living inside of it. However, it’s often hard for homeowners to tell if their foundation is vulnerable until it’s too late and thousands of dollars are needed to address the problem and keep your home safe and secure. To avoid having this happen to you, here are three things to keep an eye on in order for your home’s foundation to remain intact and for your family to stay safe.
Tree Roots
One potential hazard to be aware of around your home is tree roots. Although tree roots don’t grow very fast, they can cause a lot of damage to your home’s foundation. The damage caused is mainly from the tree roots growing and moving the soil beneath the house, which can cause weight distribution to change and the house to shift on the ground. However, Rachel Lovejoy, a contributor SFGate.com, states that homes that already have cracks in the foundation can also be penetrated by smaller tree roots that can make the damage even more drastic.
Water Damage
According to Lara Edge of HouseLogic.com, water is the number one cause for problems with a home’s foundation. This is because pooling water can put extra pressure on your foundation, causing the foundation undue stress and resulting in cracks or other imperfections. Water can also move the soil around or under your home, shifting the very structure of your building. To combat this, Edge recommends for homeowners to make sure they have good drainage around the home, check their sump pump annually, and fix any leaks as soon as you notice them. If you don’t address these problems straight away then it may lead to greater damage. In that case, you may have to contact a water damage restoration company to help restore the property.
Shifts in The Soil
A shift in the soil around or beneath your home can be caused by almost anything and can be the reason for an untold amount of damage to your home’s foundation. Kate Murphy, a contributor to the New York Times, states that drought conditions that have been seen all over can be a major cause for soil to contract and move the foundation of the home along with it.
This phenomenon can also be brought about by construction taking place in adjacent lots to your home, moving soil from its original, safe position and potentially causing damage to your home and property. To prevent your home’s foundation from failing and putting your family in danger, make sure you keep an eye on the ground around your home and seek advice from a professional if you notice anything wrong with your home and its foundation.
To make sure your home and family are as safe as possible, you’ve got to ensure that the foundation of your home is as strong and stable as it should be. Be vigilant in your awareness of what’s happening around your home to have the most secure foundation you can.
