When it comes to repairing cracks found on foundations, homeowners are advised against looking beyond the visible damage. They should look at all the possible causes of the problem and come up with ways to reinforce the damage. Companies dealing in foundation repair Frisco advise homeowners to find contractors who will investigate the problem further and ensure that the damage is fixed correctly.
Common mistakes to avoid during foundation repair
Most of the problems associated with foundation repair happen when the cause of the problem is analyzed fully. Here are some of the most common foundation repair mistakes that homeowners make and should be avoided:
1. Not reaching out to a contractor soon enough
Property owners should contact a contractor as soon as they realize that their structure’s foundation has become faulty. If the problems are not handled ASAP, they progress and the repair costs rise too.
Seeking help as soon as they sense trouble enables the property managers to get all the necessary information on how to stop the damage from progressing. Get an inspector to check all the problems and indicators that might have been missed such as cracks, unevenness, and bulges.
After the evaluation, the homeowner also gets a rough idea of how much the repairs are going to cost him so he can plan for it accordingly.
2. Planting trees and shrubs close to the house
Trees and shrubs around the house look nice and provide shade. These reasons can sound so tempting to homeowners who find themselves planting them too close to the foundation. The trees can damage the foundation in two main ways:
- The trees need moisture to grow and so their roots collect it from the soil. When the roots draw water from the soil around them, the soil around the foundation is left dry. As a result, the soil shrinks and this puts pressure on the foundation causing it to crack.
- As the trees grow, the roots become larger and they crawl underneath the house. When they reach the foundation, they slowly cause it to move and eventually crack. As a result, the foundation’s strength is compromised.
3. Not maintaining the consistent moisture level in the soil around the foundation
The soil around the foundation shouldn’t be allowed to get too wet or too dry. Remember that if the soil gets too dry it contracts and shrinks and when it’s too wet it expands and increases in volume.
To ensure that there is some form of moisture control, homeowners should periodically water the soil using a sprinkler during the hot months. The point is to get the soil a little moist without getting it over soaked.
4. Not having proper drainage systems around the foundation
When there is too much water getting to the foundation, it causes the soil to expand and this puts unnecessary pressure on the foundation.
Gutters need to be installed so that rainwater is redirected away from the house. It also pays to ensure that the soil around the foundation is on a proper slope so that the water automatically flows away from the house.
Conclusion
To avoid all the mistakes listed above, homeowners need to make sure that the foundation is well protected. As they say, prevention is always better than cure. Often, most foundation problems may be fixed using various repair techniques. But it would be better if these problems were prevented in the first place.
