The foundation is the base of your home. The integrity of your house depends on it. Small issues can put your entire home at risk. Protecting your foundation throughout the year is vital to maintaining a safe and secure house.
Here are some tips for every season on how you can protect your home’s foundation waterproofing against the elements.
Summer
Summer is a time of dry, hot weather. While it might seem counterintuitive, hot, dry weather can wreak havoc on your foundation waterproofing. Dry weather means the soil will dry out and pull away from the foundation around your home. This can lead to uneven settling and even cracking.
You might consider wetting the soil around your foundation, but that’s not the best idea, as you can end up flooding your basement by using too much water. The best solution is to water your lawn regularly, which should help keep the gap to a minimum. If you do notice the soil pulling away from the foundation, you should contact a foundation inspector to determine the best solution for the problem.
Autumn
In autumn, rainfall often starts to pick up. If you’re not prepared, the incoming deluge can cause big problems with your foundation. After so many dry months, the soil isn’t able to absorb water as easily and rain can lead to flooding and water seeping into your foundation.
You can protect your foundation from the autumn rains by:
Cleaning and inspecting your gutters
Ensuring your property is properly graded around your foundation
Inspecting the exterior for signs of shifting
As always, if you notice any signs of damage, you should call a foundation repair contractor for an inspection.
Winter
The freeze-thaw cycle that comes with winter can cause a lot of damage to your foundation. When the temperature drops below zero, the moisture in the ground freezes and expands, which can put pressure on your foundation.
You can help protect your foundation in the winter in a few ways:
Seal all minor cracks – moisture can get into small cracks, where it freezes and expands the cracks further.
Fix loose or damaged gutters – your gutters need to be in good shape to be able to do their job properly.
Heap soil on your foundation – piling additional topsoil around your home and raking it to ensure a slope away from the walls can help melting snow flow away from your foundation.
Control humidity in your basement – excess humidity can damage your walls, so using a dehumidifier on its lowest setting in the winter can help alleviate the problem.
Spring
The main culprit of foundation damage is heavy rainfall and flooding. Your foundation waterproofing needs to be able to withstand excess water in the spring. If too much water accumulates around your home, it can start seeping into the cracks and eroding the soil beneath your foundation, causing further damage.
The best way to combat this problem is by ensuring your home has proper drainage. Check your gutters for damage and clear any clogs. You should also make sure the ground slopes away from your home so water doesn’t pool at its base.
Call Bol-Dan for Foundation Waterproofing and Repair
When it comes to foundation waterproofing, no one knows it like Bol-Dan Foundation & Masonry Inc. We provide foundation waterproofing, inspections, and repairs in the Ottawa region. You can give us a call for a quote and we’ll be happy to help you out.
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