A good, solid foundation is of paramount importance to your home. A foundation can keep moisture from getting in, protects your home against the cold, and makes sure that the house doesn’t move if the earth shifts. If you’re in need of foundation repair, you shouldn’t waste any time — look for foundation repair services immediately! They can help with foundation sealing, repairing basement leaks, or repairing a cracked foundation, among other things. Whether your initial foundation was faulty, or there’s been an excess or lack of soil moisture that’s caused your foundation to shift, these experts can help get you fixed up in no time. This is especially important if there’s been a flood in your area and your basement has flooded — cleaning and drying out your home thoroughly and with great speed is crucial to keeping mold away.
Keep Your Foundation Solid From the Start
Most folks don’t have control over the laying of their home’s foundation. But if you are, make sure that it’s done right. Any error in the foundation will show itself in the rest of your home as well and can set you up for adjustments along the way, which usually wind up being more costly. More concerning is the fact that if a foundation isn’t laid correctly, it opens up the possibilities of moisture getting in and moving the soil around in ways that can harm the foundation over time.
All homeowners should make sure that the soil around the foundation slopes at least six inches for every 10 horizontal feet. Plants should also be kept away from the foundation (at least two feet away) and sit low enough in the soil that water isn’t headed for the foundation.
Talk to Me About Foundation Sealing and Basement Waterproofing
The general rule of thumb is that if there are cracks bigger than one-fourth of an inch in width or stair step cracks in blocks or bricks are evident, it’s time to fix your foundation.
Foundation sealing is one of the steps you want to take when it comes to waterproofing your foundation. Essentially, this will help moisture from getting in through the foundation and send water to the installed drains, instead of pooling and becoming a potential problem. Keep in mind though, you’ll want to consult with a professional because this will look different, depending on what part of the country you live in, and what your weather conditions are like there.
In many cases, a special type of coating and then a drain board is fixed on the outside of the wall and drain tile is set against the foot of it, so that water moves away from the house. Gravel fill that’s sealed by some type of poly membrane is set under the slab to keep extra moisture or any gases from getting into the house.
A drainage system, meanwhile, is also paramount for basement waterproofing, that works in tandem with your sump pump and a dehumidifier. The drainage system and the sump pump keep water from accumulating and pooling, and the dehumidifier helps reduce the humidity in your basement.
How Can I Find the Best Foundation Repair Contractors?
One of the best ways to find reputable companies is to ask around for personal recommendations. Family, friends, or acquaintances can tell you their firsthand experiences with the business or warn you away from ones they’ve had bad experiences with.
However, if you’re going it alone, make sure that you do your research on the company and see if you can get referrals from them, so you can double check that their claims are true. Don’t be afraid to compare and contrast a few different contractors as well — this is an essential part of your home and you want to make sure it’s done right.
From foundation sealing to basement waterproofing, make sure that your home is sealed tight. You want your foundation to be as solid as possible to avoid further trouble down the road.
