Homes with partial or finished basements are often subject to problems that crawlspace and slab foundations do not have to deal with. Foundations can sink or shift; the walls on older houses often crack and end up in need of repair. Many of the problems that basements face are dangerous not only to the structure of the house, but to the belongings that homeowners keep in their basement.

One of the biggest problems that houses face is a leaking foundation. Cracks in the concrete, limestone, or cinder blocks allow water to penetrate. Over time, these problems only grow worse if they are neglected. The cracks grow bigger and the basement faces flooding danger. Limestone and cinder block houses are more susceptible to these cracks than poured concrete.

• Best case scenario, leaking foundations will end up with water damage issues.
• Worst case scenario, the foundation of the house begins to bow or sink. If this happens, the entire foundation will need replaced.

In order to prevent costly repairs to seriously damaged foundations homeowners can do preventative maintenance and keep the house safe and dry.

Prevent Too Much or Too Little Moisture

Keep the foundation safe by removing shrugs and roots from growing too close to the foundation. Not only can the roots push into the foundation if left alone too long, but the plant competes for moisture. Also, keep the soil moist. During a drought, lack of water can cause the foundation to settle unevenly.

Make sure the downspouts run five to ten feet away from the foundation. Over saturating the ground can cause water to push into your foundation and cause cracks or bowing walls. A $5 downspout extender is worth the cost compared to redoing foundation.

Grade Away

The grading of your yard and driveway is an indicator of which direction the water moves on your property. Make sure that it is graded away from the foundation to keep the water from running into the house. Professionals usually recommend grading 6 inches to 10 feet slope away from the house. If it isn’t graded away, water pushes at the foundation and causes cracks or bowing.

Waterproof

If there are already cracks in the foundation, or if you have an older home, it is always a safe bet to invest in basement waterproofing. It doesn’t have to cost a lot to protect your home from further damage, and strong waterproofing can repel up to 70% of the water that attempts to damage it. While it is possible to purchase a good foundation epoxy from home improvement stores, the best bet is to invest a little more money in the project to have professionals do the job for you to ensure it is done right.

Protect Your Stuff

Even if you do preventive maintenance on the foundation to keep the water out, nothing is fool proof. Cardboard collapses and collects mold once it gets wet, and anything in the box will need to be thrown away. Protect your belongings by putting them in plastic tubs on shelves in the basement instead of using cardboard boxes on the floor.

The foundation of your home is not something you want to mess around with. Replacement of a foundation can cost thousands of dollars and cannot be done on a tight budget. With a little preventative maintenance, you can protect your foundation against potential threats and ensure the longevity of your home.