Foundation Fiascos: 5 Common Causes Of Foundation Issues
Faulty foundations can put the entire structural integrity of your home at risk. Repairing foundations can cost thousands of dollars - it’s one of the most expensive home repair jobs you can carry out. While it’s not always possible to prevent shifting foundations, there are some things that you can do to reduce the risk of foundation issues. This post delves into some of the common causes of subsidence and how to protect your foundations.
Plumbing leaks
Underground pipes that drip or burst can end up drenching the soil beneath your home. As the earth becomes saturated in water, parts of your home’s foundations may potentially start to sink.
It can be difficult to determine when pipes have burst beneath your home, however signs like a lack of water pressure or unusually high water bills can be red flags. Running water noises or a flooded crawl space can also be signs of a leak. Hire a plumber to take a look if you suspect there could be a leak.
Faulty gutters
Gutters are designed to direct water runoff from your roof into drains so that it doesn’t settle around the foundations of your home. If gutters become blocked or damaged, water can leak out of them instead of being drained away. This water can soak into the ground around your home and potentially cause your property to sink.
Make sure to regularly unclog your gutters if they regularly get blocked with leaves. If your guttering is visibly damaged and leaking water, consider hiring a gutter installation company to replace your guttering.
Tree roots
When the earth under your home becomes too dry, this too can cause foundation issues. Clay soil can compact causing a property to sink. What can cause earth under a property to dry out? Tree roots could potentially be a cause - trees suck up a lot of water from the earth and can often cause ground to get dryer around them.
Check that there are no tree roots growing under your home. If there are, hiring a tree removal company to remove these roots could be necessary. Removing or relocating an entire tree may be necessary if a tree’s branches are also growing too close to your home.
Overloading
A home that is too heavy for its foundations may start to crack or tilt. While most building foundations are strong enough to support a lot of weight, some older properties may have weak foundations. Single story buildings that have been converted into two story buildings may also not have been built with foundations deep enough to support the added weight of the building.
The only solution to this is to strengthen the foundations. If you’re thinking of adding another story to any part of your home, make sure that the foundations are checked first and that they are reinforced if necessary.
Natural disasters
Floods, droughts, earthquakes and coastal erosion can all weaken the foundations of a home.
While you cannot do anything to prevent these disasters occuring, you may be able to take steps to protect your home from damage. There are ways of strengthening foundations against certain natural disasters - something that is worth doing if you live in a high risk area. Alternatively, you may be able to divert damage away from your foundations - such as using french drains or swales to divert flood water away from the foundations of your home.
