When maintaining the upkeep on your home, the structural foundation of the home itself may be the last thing you might think of. However, your home’s foundation is probably one of, if not the most, important part of home preservation.
The best way to maintain the integrity of your home’s structure and foundation is to identify and prevent a problem before it even becomes one—and repair the ones you do find right away. Here are some effective changes you can make right now to aid in the protection of your home’s foundation.
Lawn Care
Taking proper care of your home’s foundation starts with strict lawn maintenance and preservation. While not as common of an issue for a home’s foundation, things like roots from trees or shrubs can cause massive problems over time if not properly handled. Roots impeding on your home can cause cracks in the foundation walls or floors, shattered windows and sometimes even warped flooring. Before planting any new trees on your property, it is a good idea to install a root barrier to prevent roots from making their way under your home.
Another huge part of lawn care is maintaining proper drainage for those wet, rainy days. Sitting water can lead to flooding, cracks and even sinking or displacement. Even though it can cause massive issues, it can be avoided pretty easily. Make sure that you’re regularly checking and cleaning your gutters especially after rainfall. If you’re still getting sitting water, try extending your downspout or even adding a rain barrel. In some instances, however, if your yard is uneven and slopes down toward your home’s foundation, it may cause some large water puddles to form. If this is the case, you may have to have your yard regraded.
Pest Control
If you’re a veteran homeowner, there’s a good chance that you have had your fair share of run-ins with a variety of pests. In fact, from a 2012 survey conducted by Pest Defense, 84 percent of Americans reported a pest problem within the past 12 months alone. Having pests may seem unavoidable, but
there are plenty of things a homeowner can do in order to mitigate the chances of having pest problems within their home.
There is a wide array of pests, but none contribute to structural and foundational damage of a home more than termites, especially in Texas. These little insects typically make contact with a home’s interior by burrowing up through any wood that may be in direct contact with the ground. Because of this it is important to keep in mind during the planning phase of building a home. But, that doesn’t mean that existing homeowners are out of luck. To aid in their prevention, be sure that all mulch, plants, wood and lumber do not come in direct contact with your home. Making sure that the ground around your home’s foundation isn’t too moist can also be crucial as termites have a known proclivity toward moisture.
Pests are a tough problem to handle on your own. Not only are they hard to get rid of, but they can also be hard to spot. Getting in touch with your local pest control company may seem unnecessary, but scheduling routine checks could save you a lot of money in the long run. If you spot a problem, sometimes it’s best to leave it to professionals who have the tools to deal with any termites and any other pest problems you may have.
Home Service
Nowadays, homeowners insurance is oftentimes a prerequisite when buying a new home. In many cases you’re not able to actually purchase a home without it. And while it is good to have when major problems arise, things like leaky plumbing may not be covered under that plan. Issues with plumbing can in turn lead to major structural damage if not treated. In instances like those, having a home warranty can make all the difference. Plus, a home warranty covers a multitude of other repairs like HVAC systems and electrical. If you decide not to opt for the home warranty plan, just having a local plumber that you can depend on to check on your plumbing can save you from a small drain drip turning into a flooded basement.
At the end of the day, these are all great ways to protect your home’s foundational integrity, but with Texas’s complex soils it’s hard to know for sure how secure your foundation really is.
Perma Pier is an expert in the complexity and diversity of Texas soils. We’ve served over 30,000 Texas commercial and residential customers, and our foundation-repair history spans over three generations. We also offer no-charge foundation evaluations.
Build a Relationship With Perma Pier
At Perma Pier, we pride ourselves on building strong relationships with realtors, and we have for over 20 years. We understand you need a consistent, professional partner who will protect your clients’ foundations, as well as your reputation. Learn more and begin your partnership with Perma Pier today.
