Simple Steps to Prevent Home Foundation Issues

<img src="https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/Article_Webp/AdobeStock_597286987.webp" alt="undefined" style="height: ;width: "/> Originally written by Ed Zayer of Zayer Quality Construction While many homeowners invest a lot of money into the aesthetic components of their homes, other, less conspicuous aspects often go unnoticed or ignored. One such aspect is water drainage, which is simple to maintain yet easy to overlook. Considering the potentially dire consequences of drainage issues, however, it’s important to proactively address problems in order to avoid major repair costs in the future. Improper drainage is typically caused by a few contributing factors, including gutter downspouts that aren’t correctly terminated, poor grading and water-retentive soil. In a scenario where all three of these elements are present, the situation unfolds accordingly: A downspout lets out right next to the home’s foundation; the standing water causes the ground to swell, which in turn causes the foundation to rise; later, when the water evaporates in the summer, the swelled ground shrinks and the foundation settles, causing cracks to form in the home’s sheetrock and stucco. In addition to undermining a home’s structural elements, latent moisture that permeates a concrete foundation can attract both subterranean termites and fungi. Fortunately, these issues can usually be avoided by taking a few simple steps to improve drainage. First, reorient any gutter downspouts that aren’t correctly terminating. Make sure they discharge water a minimum of five feet from foundations built on sandy soil, or 10 feet in the case of expansive soil. You should also make sure the ground outside your home is graded properly, with a 3 to 5 percent slope within 10 feet of the foundation. Furthermore, if the soil outside your home is highly water-retentive, replacing it with gravel in areas where downspouts terminate will help prevent standing water.  <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/" target="_self">Use Diamond Certified Resource to find top rated companies.</a> Local, Top Rated Diamond Certified Companies Related to Your Topic <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/contra-costa-foundation-contractors/" target="_self">Contra Costa County Foundation Contractors</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/foundation-contractor/ca/san-francisco-county/" target="_self">San Francisco Foundation Contractors</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/foundation-contractor/ca/santa-clara-county/" target="_self">Santa Clara County Foundation Contractors</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/alameda-foundation-contractors/" target="_self">Alameda County Foundation Contractors</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/san-mateo-foundation-contractors/" target="_self">San Mateo County Foundation Contractors</a>  Related Articles <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/foundations-and-framing/" target="_self">The Homeowner's Guide to Foundations & Framing</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top Rated Local Companies</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free)</a>