Homeowners have some options to help prevent or slow down foundation movement or settlement. They have more options before construction, in the pre-construction phase of building a home, but there are still options after a home is built. This article will focus on the options after a home is built.
Surface water control and and landscape plantings are the two major areas a homeowner can influence.
Surface water control can be handled with gutters, downspouts and drainage.
Rains where the gutters and / or downspouts are not working result in tremendous saturation next to the foundation from roof run off. To prevent this:
* Gutters must be kept clean and in good repair so they can do their job of channeling water to the downspouts, and
* All downspouts need to discharge in drains that are no closer than 10 feet from foundation walls of the house.
Grading of the land around your home is also important. Ideally this was taken care of when the house was built, but since you're already living in your home, you may want to the grading of your land checked. International Building code requires a minimum fall of 6 inches over 10 feet around the building to ensure that water drains away from the structure.
Surrounding terrain beyond ten feet from your house also affects water flow. You'll want to be sure that the other parts of your property are adequately shedding water to the city's reclamation drains or draining natural areas.
Landscape plantings are the other major area a homeowner can influence to slow the impact of soil expansion and erosion on the foundation.
Large trees and planting beds are the two elements you'll want to focus on here.
Large trees need to be away from the foundation. Their root systems can extend out as far as their overhead branches and sometimes farther. You have several options for handling this.
* Root barriers made of specially treated fabric lining can be installed in a vertical trench between the tree and the foundation.
* Trees that have been planted too close to the house years before may have to be removed to stop the likelihood of future damage.
* Trees near the foundation should be watered well during the summer to prevent their roots from reaching out elsewhere for water. Good watering slows root growth away from the tree.
* Planting beds around your home are not only an attractive landscape feature, they also can help improve foundation conditions. How?
* Watering your beds and keeping them well mulched will prevent drying of the soils around the foundation.
Surface water control and and landscape plantings are the two major areas a homeowner can influence.
Surface water control can be handled with gutters, downspouts and drainage.
Rains where the gutters and / or downspouts are not working result in tremendous saturation next to the foundation from roof run off. To prevent this:
* Gutters must be kept clean and in good repair so they can do their job of channeling water to the downspouts, and
* All downspouts need to discharge in drains that are no closer than 10 feet from foundation walls of the house.
Grading of the land around your home is also important. Ideally this was taken care of when the house was built, but since you're already living in your home, you may want to the grading of your land checked. International Building code requires a minimum fall of 6 inches over 10 feet around the building to ensure that water drains away from the structure.
Surrounding terrain beyond ten feet from your house also affects water flow. You'll want to be sure that the other parts of your property are adequately shedding water to the city's reclamation drains or draining natural areas.
Landscape plantings are the other major area a homeowner can influence to slow the impact of soil expansion and erosion on the foundation.
Large trees and planting beds are the two elements you'll want to focus on here.
Large trees need to be away from the foundation. Their root systems can extend out as far as their overhead branches and sometimes farther. You have several options for handling this.
* Root barriers made of specially treated fabric lining can be installed in a vertical trench between the tree and the foundation.
* Trees that have been planted too close to the house years before may have to be removed to stop the likelihood of future damage.
* Trees near the foundation should be watered well during the summer to prevent their roots from reaching out elsewhere for water. Good watering slows root growth away from the tree.
* Planting beds around your home are not only an attractive landscape feature, they also can help improve foundation conditions. How?
* Watering your beds and keeping them well mulched will prevent drying of the soils around the foundation.
Posted in: Foundation
