While you may not give your home’s foundation much thought, its condition is critical to the structural integrity of your home. If the foundation has any damage, not only will the value of your house depreciate but you and the safety of your loved ones is at risk. This is true even for small damage like cracks. If ignored the damage will only get worse the longer that it is neglected. Luckily, there are ways that you can maintain it and make sure that it does not get damaged, or if it already is, get it repaired immediately. If you are currently in need of foundation repair in North Little Rock, or think there may be damage and you would like it inspected, then go ahead and contact American Structure Inc. today!
TOP RATED LOCAL® FOUNDATION REPAIR SPECIALISTS
Quality Workers, Quality Materials
MAINTAINING YOUR HOME’S FOUNDATION
CONSTANT INSPECTIONS
There’s really no overdoing it when it comes to inspecting your foundation to see if there are any signs of damage. We recommend walking around your foundation at least every couple of months. There are many obvious signs that it is in need of repair and some that are a little bit more subtle. One clear sign that there is damage that anyone can see are visible cracks. It is always a wise decision to treat cracks before they grow. Another sign to look out for is a trail of insects going in or out of a crack. This will cause the deterioration to happen even faster. Also, check your basement or crawlspace for excessive moisture.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD DRAINAGE SYSTEM
In order for your foundation to maintain its highest quality condition, you need to ensure that your home has a proper drainage system. It’s important that your property has the correct slope to bring water away from your foundation. Also, double-check that your drains are doing their jobs accurately. If you have noticed any pooling around your foundation or your basement/crawlspace constantly has water seeping in, you’re going to want to contact us so that we can assess the situation and find the proper solution. One of our specialties is residential drainage services so you can count on us to find a resolution to the issue.
PROTECT THE FOUNDATION FROM LARGE TREES
While trees are a great addition to your landscape, large trees can pose a big threat to your home’s foundation. Not only can the roots literally grow into the concrete, but trees, as you well know, need moisture. Since the proper amount of moisture around your property is very important to the condition of your foundation, larger trees will take the water from the soil which will cause problems for your structure. In fact, a large tree can take up to 150 gallons of water a day from your soil. If you are planning on planting trees in your yard, it would be smart to talk to an expert about how large the tree may get and how much moisture it requires.
DON’T IGNORE WARNING SIGNS
We’ve said it before and we will definitely say again, do not ignore any signs that there is damage to your foundation! We understand that you do not want to go through the hassle of having foundation repair experts out to your house, and you especially don’t want to spend the money, but the longer that you wait to get the damage repaired, the worse it is going to get, which means that the work is only going to get more costly. If you catch the damage early, it will likely be a simple repair job.
HAVE THE PLUMBING CHECKED
One main cause of foundation damage is due to issues with the plumbing in your house. There are multiple places that can spring a leak which will eventually find its way to your foundation. This includes the sewer lines, your home’s plumbing system, sprinkler systems, and more. Not only is the excess water bad for the foundation, but your home’s general condition as well. Your water bill will be especially high (and no one likes to spend money that doesn’t have to be spent), and water damage is also costly. Look for obvious leaks, moldy walls, pooling, etc. However, water works in mysterious ways and some leaks are much harder to find.
That is why we recommend that you make sure to get annual plumbing checks. It will help to ensure that everything is working correctly, there are no leaks, and will act as a preventative measure if the plumber finds warning signs that a leak is about to happen.
PROPER MOISTURE
As we have mentioned in the past, it is so important to make sure that the soil around your foundation has the proper level of moisture. You do not want the ground to be extra wet or extra dry. While your foundation is meant to take some expansion and contraction with the soil, it will damage when it becomes excessive.
There you have it, some simple and easy tips to ensure that your home’s foundation is maintained. The most important thing to remember is to constantly check its condition to ensure that there are no cracks or other damage, and if you do see visible damage, get it repaired as soon as possible! If you would like more information about home foundations or you are in need of our foundation repair services in North Little Rock, then please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
