Ensure Your Foundation and Basement Are Ready for Spring Rains

Rain can negatively impact your home's foundation.

When spring arrives after a long winter, the transition comes with many changes in surroundings that affect the foundations. Spring rains, excessive moisture in the soil, clogged drainage systems, and all other effects due to these problems can damage your foundation, basement, and eventually the whole house.

That's why it's important to ensure your foundation area is ready to fight with all the problems and protect your property. This article briefly shows all the basics related to foundation and basement problems, their potential effects, and how you can prevent or solve them.

Signs of Foundation and Basement Damage

If your foundation faces any problems in the winter, there can be signs in your entire house. Those signs include:

• There can be new and widened cracks in the walls.
• Doors and windows will keep sticking to the frames.
• Floors can be uneven and humid.
• There will be excessive moisture in the basement and entire house.
• Puddles can be found near the crawlspace.
• Any part of the house can be settled or sink a bit due to foundational settling.
• Tilted chimney due to the soil movement near the foundation.
• The walls will also be leaned or bowed due to foundation settlement.
• Water bubbles and stains will be on the structure.
• Mold growth in different places inside your house.
•  Increase in utility bills due to cracks increasing heating and cooling energy.
• There can be cracks in bathroom and kitchen tiles.
• Gaps between ceilings and walls can be found due to structural sinking.
• There will be cracks and leaks in the foundation and basement walls.
• The stairs can be tilted a bit for sinking foundations.
• Insect and rodent invasions inside the house will increase.

Ensuring Ready Foundation and Basement in Spring Rains

Now let’s get to know all the possible ways to prepare your basement and foundation area for spring splashes:

1.   Seal Cracks

All the old and new cracks and crevices on your interior, exterior, basement, and foundation walls need to be sealed properly and promptly using epoxy or other sealants to prevent water infiltration. Otherwise, the crack will widen after spring rain, and the structural parts can collapse.

2.   Seal Entry Points

All the entry points in your basement area, like doors, windows, and vents, should be properly sealed using weatherstripping and caulk in the gaps to protect the place from any kind of moisture and water intrusion.

3.   Proper Ventilation

Proper ventilation is a must to prevent excessive moisture and mold growth in the basement area. You can use dehumidifiers to ensure balanced ventilation.

4.   Waterproofing

Consider waterproofing the crawlspace to prevent water penetration near the foundation. You can use any type of moisture barrier that the professional suggests.

5.   Check AC Condensation

If the AC condensation in your house is located near the foundation, the condensed water will be discharged directly near the foundation, which can cause damage to the structure. Take proper steps to redirect the water or move the condensation to a safer place.

6.   Check Roof

Ensure the shingles on your roof are placed properly so that there’s no leak to welcome rainwater into the attic that’ll eventually pool in the basement area.

7.   Clean Gutters and Drains

Clean all the gutters and drains, including the storm drain, to ensure the plumbing system is okay. Clogged systems lead to cracks and leaks in pipes, walls, and other structural elements.

8.   Check Downspout

To avoid pooling near the foundation, you need to make sure the downspout extensions are reciting water at least 5 feet away from the foundation.

9.   Slope Leveling

The ground around the basement determines the amount of water pooling near the foundation. If the slope is graded toward the foundation, it can be a serious problem in spring rains. You can level the slope by adding soil and dirt in low parts of your property to make the gradient away from your house.

10.  Landscape Improvement

If you want to plant new trees, avoid planting big ones near the basement. Plant grass and small shrubs around the house exterior; they will prevent soil erosion and also suck away excess moisture from the ground.

11.   French Drains

The French drain system prevents accumulated water from entering your house. So install the drain before the spring rain starts pouring.

12.  Sump Pumps

A sump pump device drains away all the water from your foundation area, so it's a must for spring rains. If there’s no sump pump in your house, install one, and if you have one, check if it’s working properly and has an emergency backup power source.

13. Root Barriers

If there are large trees on your property or in your neighbor’s yard, the roots can penetrate your basement area. In most cases, roots grow at least 3 times than the canopy radius, so you never know how or when a tree root will damage your foundation. Install thick root barriers to prevent infiltration around your foundation.

14.  Branch Trimming

Fallen leaves and branches can clog drainage systems, damage walls or pipes, and help with water seepage near the crawlspace. Ensure proper trimming before spring comes; it’ll also help the plant grow lavishly.

15.  Old Problems

If you’re new to your house, you won’t know the problems the basement area has faced before. You’ll need to learn about the problems and how they were solved through proper communication with the previous owner or real estate agency to plan ahead on preventative measures before spring arrives.

16.  Documentation

You can keep a log about foundation and basement problems you’re going to face from now on and document every detail in that log or electric file. This will help you to prevent and solve future problems. Also, denials of your claims from insurance companies and contractors can be handled wisely with all the documents.

Foundation repair companies typically offer free assessments. Companies like PierMagic offer free assessments on foundation repairs, waterproofing, crack sealing, and drainage solutions. If you're ready to tackle your issues, reach out today! 816-765-4800