Causes of Foundation Problems
The structural stability of your home is actually supported by its foundation. If you neglect a little foundation problem, it might evolve into a massive disaster that will cost you thousands of dollars to repair. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes, and this is especially true when it comes to foundations.
It may surprise you, but…
Water is the most common source of foundation difficulties. If there is too much water, the soil swells; if there is not enough water, the soil shrinks. Both scenarios can produce foundation issues, especially if the swelling or shrinking is concentrated in one section of the foundation.
To put it another way, if the earth beneath the foundation isn’t equally wet or dry. Soil erosion caused by poor drainage can potentially cause issues with the foundation of your home. We’ll go through these concerns in further detail later. Water isn’t the only cause of foundation failure.
Before we get into the top three reasons for foundation problems, we need to discuss expansive soils.
However, what if the soil under the foundation isn’t evenly wet or dry?
When certain areas of the soil under the foundation are dryer (or wetter) than others, the foundation no longer moves as one unit as the soil expands or shrinks. When this happens, the foundation can develop cracks and other serious problems.
What if the earth beneath the foundation isn’t uniformly wet or dry?
When some portions of the soil beneath the foundation are dryer (or wetter) than others, the foundation no longer moves as a single unit as the soil expands or contracts. When this happens, the foundation might break and develop other major issues.
The earth beneath the foundation shrinks and dries up.
The earth beneath your foundation shrinks as it dries up in hot, dry weather. When this happens, the soil’s support slips away from the foundation, making it unstable and prone to shifting. When the foundation changes, you may notice fractures in the walls, ceilings, and floors, as well as difficulties opening doors and windows.
Soil can also dry out as a result of tree roots sucking water from it. The earth then shrinks and pushes away from the foundation, causing difficulties that might lead to serious structural damage.
Watering your grass and plants during hot, dry weather is critical if you live in a region with expansive soils. This will keep the soil from drying up and separating from the foundation. However, as you will see in the following section, you must ensure that the soil does not get excessively saturated during wet or rainy seasons.
The earth beneath the foundation absorbs excessive amounts of water and swells.
If the dirt beneath your foundation is overly wet, it might cause difficulties with the foundation. As previously stated, when soil becomes saturated with water, it swells and expands. This forces the foundation upward, causing fissures in the walls, floors, and ceilings, among other things. Because of this upward movement, your floors may begin to slope.
Too much rain in one place might compress or erode loose, granular soils (or cause them to settle), resulting in unequal foundation stability. Too much moisture will cause the earth to expand in a location with expansive soil, as we described above.
Sinkhole creation occurs naturally.
Water draining underground causes sinkholes. That is, there is no exterior drainage exit. This promotes subsurface soil erosion, which can lead to the formation of underground caves. Even minor sinkholes may wreak havoc on your home’s foundation.
How to Prevent Foundation Issues in Your Home
Your home’s structural integrity is only as good as the foundation it stands on. If your home’s foundation was properly built, it’s quite simple to either avoid or detect problems before they cause serious harm. Call RLM Retrofit Foundation for Foundation Inspection Near Me Manhattan Beach and repair immediately for more information.
