You have a number of options when it comes to protecting the foundation of your house. Some of these include planting trees far enough away from the house, laying down a gravel barrier, or installing a French drain. Regardless of which method you choose to protect your home, the best way to protect your house’s foundation is to prevent moisture from soaking into the soil and causing damage. Fortunately, there are many ways to protect your house foundation, so read on for some tips and tricks to help you avoid damaging it.
Keeping Soil Moisture Away From The Foundation
Soil around a house that is too wet can cause water damage. Excess water can cause the soil around the foundation walls to expand, causing cracks and leaks. Excess water can also cause soil erosion, causing the foundation to shift or sink. Proper landscaping practices can help keep excess moisture away from your house. Keep your landscape as low as possible so that it doesn’t affect the integrity of your house’s foundation.
Avoid planting trees close to your house. Trees near the foundation can cause damage. Excessive water from storms can cause ground to expand and contract, causing cracks and instability in your foundation. Watering your lawn and soil around the foundation on a regular basis will help prevent foundation problems. By following these steps, you can prevent foundation damage caused by excessive water. And remember to follow up with professional landscaping services to ensure your landscape remains attractive and healthy.
Make sure your downspouts are kept clear of debris. Cleaning your gutters is important, as backed-up gutters can cause water to leak into your house. Clean your gutters regularly and make sure they don’t become clogged. Mulch and hard soil won’t let water drain slowly and efficiently. Also, make sure your trees are trimmed back to allow the downspouts to drain away from your house.
A garden acts as a safety net for your foundation. While it looks attractive, it can also be a cause of foundation problems. When soil moisture is overly wet, it can expand and push against the foundation of the house. This can cause cracks and settlement and destabilize structural elements. Keeping soil moisture away from the foundation of your house is the first step towards preventing any damage from flash floods. Soil moisture can cause extensive damage, so a professional should remove it as soon as possible.
Soil around the foundation of your house should be on a downward slope, especially the first few feet. The soil should have a slope of at least 3-6% away from the foundation. It should never be a negative slope, but it must slope away from the foundation to avoid damage. If soil is too wet, the foundation may move and crack walkways. Soil erosion is a silent problem that can go undetected for years.
Using A Gravel Barrier
Some articles suggest that you lay gravel around the foundation of your house to prevent flooding. While gravel can help with drainage, it can also cause water to pile up. Although gravel can protect your house from flooding, it is not a better option than just dirt around the foundation. For example, if you have had flooding near your house in the past, gravel could have contributed to the problem. Grading and trenching are two ways to prevent flooding around the foundation of your home.
The first thing you need to do is to identify the source of water. If your foundation is near a lake, you should make sure to check the water flow from that lake to ensure that it isn’t damaging the house. You can also look at your landscaping and make sure that all the sides of your foundation are covered. If you have large trees near the foundation, they can negatively affect it. If you have a problem with the soil around your house foundation, it might be worth installing a rain barrel to collect runoff.
If you want to use decorative gravel around the foundation of your house, you must ensure that the soil slopes away from it. The soil surrounding the building must be sloped away from it by a minimum of six inches. If the soil is flat and back-angled, it could result in rotting wood and underground concrete cracking. Decorative gravel is also an excellent water barrier and can also help keep weeds and soil mounds from accumulating around the building.
While well-maintained shrubs and trees are good for the landscape, their roots could also cause damage to your home’s foundation. In particular, trees with invasive root systems are dangerous for house foundations. If there is a large tree within ten or twenty feet of the foundation, it could touch any side of the house. In such a case, you have two choices: remove the tree or install a root barrier around it.
Planting Trees Far Enough Away From The House
Although trees don’t directly cause damage to the foundation, they can weaken it under certain conditions. Water is a crucial element for trees and, without adequate water, roots can cause problems with concrete. Proper watering and proper spacing between trees and the foundation will help prevent problems. You can also plant trees far enough away from the house to allow water to pass through without affecting the foundation.
Putting trees too close to the house can cause problems because they will send out roots that will damage the foundation. Besides blocking breezes, they can also cause mold and mildew on the siding and invite termites. You can also protect your house foundation by planting wood mulch one foot away from the foundation. If this isn’t an option, you can fill the space with crushed gravel.
A tree can also cause problems with your foundation if the water table fluctuates frequently. Constant fluctuations in water levels will speed up the erosion process. To protect your house foundation from accelerated soil erosion, plant low-water plants such as bamboo, maple, and juniper. But avoid planting plants too close to the house as they can soak up too much water and then dry out.
The ideal distance between a tree and the house is at least 10 feet. However, the final measurement can vary depending on the condition of the tree. It is best to plant medium-sized trees at least fifteen feet away from the house and fifty feet or more from the house. Large evergreens, for example, should never be planted directly south of the building. This is a risk for their roots to grow through the concrete foundation.
Using A French Drain
A French drain is a great way to prevent excess water from pooling near your home’s slab. They are also helpful in areas where ground settles. Because they are designed to adapt to the ground’s shifting levels, they’re ideal for areas where the ground tends to sag. A French drain can be installed on a slope so excess water can be channeled into rain gardens or dry wells, absorbing excess water. The drainage system must be designed and installed properly, and it is best to call in a professional to install it.
A French drain is an excellent solution for damp spots or basements. A perforated pipe is placed in the trench and covered with gravel or stone. Water will naturally flow downhill through the pipe because it will always follow the path of least resistance, which is downhill. The gravel or stone inside the pipe will then collect the water and channel it to a storm drain or rain barrel. If the soil around your house is constantly wet and dry, it can cause a wide range of problems for your house, from a pool in your yard to a flooded basement.
Using a French drain will protect your foundation from water infiltration and humidity. During climate changes, the soil around your house can become saturated with water. This water infiltration can cause problems, including cracks and crumbling concrete. These problems are easily remedied by installing a French drain. The drainage system will also make the bottom of your foundation dry, preventing moisture-related issues. A drain helps you to enjoy the outdoors by watering your lawn and garden.
When installing a French drain to protect your house foundation, you can enjoy your property even more. Water can accumulate near the foundation after a rain or flood. During a heavy rain, water can accumulate in the crawlspace, leading to a flooded basement. Without the proper drainage system, this water can damage your foundation and cause bad odors. A French drain will also prevent flooding and will show prospective buyers that you’ve invested in proper maintenance.
