Tips to Protect Your Building's Foundation from Water Damage

A home, a relationship or a career will last long if the foundation it is built on is strong and solid. You need to keep it steady because even the soundest structures and brightest prospects can be ruined if the foundation fails. 

This is true for all aspects of life and for buildings and structures as well. If the foundation is weak, the entire structure will crumble down to pieces or at least sustain a lot of damage. If that happens, repairs will cause a lot of hassle and inconveniences and will cost you dearly. To avoid these expenses, you need to do everything possible to keep the foundation solid and strong. 

 

A building's foundation can be damaged by different factors, such as earthquakes, extreme temperatures, tree roots, and a lot more. Meanwhile, moisture and dampness are the typical culprits that weaken and destroy the home’s base. When water is collected around the house because of rain or burst pipes, the saturated soil around the foundation swells and shifts. The pressure on the foundation walls grows larger and the result will be cracks and leaks, allowing the water to stay in the foundation and causing electrical hazards, mold growth, and structural damages.

 

To avoid such problems, you need to find a way to protect your building’s foundation from water. 

 

· Ensure good drainage

One of the best ways to keep water away from your building’s foundation is to make sure that the drainage is built properly. However, if the drainage fails and water enters your home, you can always contact ServiceMaster of Savannah for water damage restoration Savannah.

 

· Keep gutters clear of leaves and debris

Make water run freely by making gutters free from any blockage and debris. Heavy rains will send water rapids down the side of the building straight into the ground if the gutters are blocked. Putting screens on gutters is one way to prevent them from clogging. 

 

· Keep your property in good condition

Inspect the walls of the building for cracks and deteriorating mortar joints. If you find any damage, take quick and efficient measures to fix the problem. Seal small cracks and fix larger gaps with the help of hydraulic cement. 

 

· Check your roof for water

Ensure that water isn’t trickling from top to bottom. Make sure to replace any broken tile and fix loose or misplaced ones as soon as you notice them. 

 

· Inspect the plumbing system

Always check your plumbing system on a regular basis and keep it in good condition all the time; you may replace or repair damaged or rusty pipes and valves to protect your house or building from water damage. 

 

· Check your sinks for leaks

Look for dark spots around toilets and under sinks and check for water leaks in bathtubs. Immediately repair any leak if you find one. 

 

· Check for water pooling around your building’s foundation.

If you find stagnant puddles close to your building after the rain, remove the water and fill these areas with dirt to keep pools from forming near the foundation in the future. 

 

· Do not let soil dry out completely around your house

The soil of your foundation dries out and shrinks during a drought. It will expand and exert great pressure on the wall’s foundation when the next big rain soaks the earth. To keep this from happening, you are strongly advised to water the soil around your building’s foundation during the dry season to keep it moist and keep it from shrinking. 

 

Knowing how to effectively drain water away from your building’s foundation will save you from expenses for water extraction Savannah GA, so make sure that you protect your building’s foundation well and keep it safe and strong at all times.

For professional water damage restoration services Savannah and its surrounding areas, contact ServiceMaster of Savannah at 912-244-6966. We service Brooklet, Clyo, Eden, Ellabell, Fleming, Fort Stewart, Garfield, Guyton, Hinesville, Meldrim, Midway, Pembroke, Pooler, Portal, Register, Riceboro, Richmond Hill, Rincon, Springfield, Statesboro, Tybee Island, and Walthourville.