How to Protect Your Home’s Building Foundations

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Where you might feel like your home is secure, you may be surprised to find that the foundations can seriously change things structurally. Even minor issues can spread and become very costly if they are not assessed in quick time. To get your home prepared for these things, you can put in place a range of measures to protect the house’s foundations. Here are some tips that this flood defence foundations company shares with us.

Inspect and clean your gutters

Gutters can fill up with a lot of things that we can end up being unaware of, like piles of leaves in the autumn, random objects flown across due to wind and debris. In the rainier months it’s even more important to keep an eye on your guttering as you would be able to notice the build up much easier. When it’s dry however, you should take advantage early on to spot anything blocking your drains. Clear it all away for better drainage and water flow.

 

You will also need to check if there are any leaks, cracks or other damage all across your drainage pipes and guttering. This is best tackled before the weather changes, as it’s prepared and ready for whatever comes its way.

Check the sides of your foundations for moisture build up

There are a few things that can cause moisture to build around a house’s foundations. One common one is foliage, trees or hedgerows that might be hugging the sides of your house. If left untreated, they can cause a lot of moisture to build up all around your house, and you would be very surprised to find how much this can damage a home’s foundations! Cut back plants, vines or hedges that lean against your home to ensure air continues to circulate.

Water your foundations when it becomes really hot

In the summer, or at any time where it’s really hot outside, the ground surrounding your home can shrink due to the temperature. This can really upset your foundations if left untreated, and especially if it’s very hot outside. Remedy this by watering your lawn and the surrounds of where your foundations lie to keep the ground moist.

Do regular checks of your foundations

Your neighbor might be getting an extension done on their home. Or your other neighbour is getting their fences changed. These might seem like little changes that have no effect on you, but they can actually impact the way your foundations look by a lot. Keep an eye on your foundations and see if there are any changes.

 

Jeff Campbell
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