The foundation of a home is the first part of a home built when a person is building a house. When the foundation is not constructed accurately the integrity of the rest of the building can be compromised and can result in significant problems and extremely costly repairs. Here are the reasons this occurs and then suggestions to help avoid damage to your houses’ foundation.
Homeowners primarily have to be able to control and reduce the quantity of water that could accumulate near the homes foundation. This can be done in numerous ways. The installation of a french pipe system, adequate grading of the ground and paved places, and the correct use of gutters and downspouts.
The first technique of protecting a foundation listed was the installation of a french drain system. This is better performed at the time of development when the location near the bottom of the foundation is still exposed. It generally includes a drain line that will collect liquid then direct that water from the home to a lower level or to a storm drain. When planned at time of construction this is easier to accomplish. Once the house is built and a lower area of the yard is not conveniently available the water could be directed to a gravel filled pit in the ground in which the water can then be absorbed in to the soil at a location far from the foundation.
In the event that the house is already built with the foundation base not easily obtainable then then managing rain drainage is the next best method for foundation protection. Even if a home is constructed with a drain system near the foundation it is important to manage rain. home inspection atlanta
Water weights approximately 8.5 pounds per gallon. An average rainfall can easily result in hundreds of pounds of water running down gutters and downspouts. Hundreds of pounds of weight pushing against your foundation can produce splits, leaning and bowing. If the water pooled up against your foundation freezes the complications are worse. Liquid expands once it freezes therefore the pressure against your foundation is even greater.
In order to manage water drainage from the roof every house must have rain gutters and downspouts installed. The important aspect of the gutter system which is typically ignored and regularly found during the course of home inspections is that the downspouts do not steer the rainwater from the foundation far enough. Downspouts without correct extensions will focus runoff to specific parts of the foundation. Always possess downspout extensions that take the water far from the foundation.
Related to downspout extensions for water control is the slope of the ground surface on the outside of the house. This consists of paved areas also. It needs to slope down and away to help keep water from gathering around the foundation.
With these ideas you should be better informed on the best ways to protect and take care of the foundation of your house. url