In Michigan, April is one of the wettest months, with the metro Detroit area averaging around an inch of rain per week. While this rain is a welcome sign of spring, it can damage your home’s foundation if preventative measures are not taken. With our extensive experience helping Michigan home and business owners protect their foundations and basements from water damage since 1975, Tom’s Basement Waterproofing is a trusted name. If your foundation is at risk of water damage from April rainfall, keep reading to learn more about steps you can take to mitigate these risks.
The Impact of Saturated Soil on Foundation Integrity
With heavy rainfall, the soil becomes saturated with water and threatens the structural integrity of your home. When soil becomes saturated, it reaches a point where it can no longer absorb any more water. This negatively impacts the health of your foundation in several ways, including:
- Exerting excess pressure on your home
- Weakening the support soil gives your home
- Increasing erosion of the soil around your foundation
Saturated soil also increases hydrostatic pressure on your foundation. Hydrostatic pressure can be particularly damaging to your foundation and basement. Symptoms and signs of hydrostatic pressure you may notice in your foundation include:
- Horizontal cracks in basement walls
- Bowing or bulging foundation walls
- Water intrusion through cracks and seams
- Water intrusion into your basement
Soil also expands and contracts from wet to dry, harming your foundation. Soil expansion leads to common foundation problems, including:
- Vertical or stair-step cracks in brick or concrete
- Misaligned doors and windows
- Uneven floors and foundation settlement
It’s crucial to take action at the first sign of saturated soil-related damage. Contact Tom’s Basement Waterproofing to inspect your foundation and make necessary repairs before they become more major. This proactive approach can save you time, money, and stress in the long run.
Preventing Spring Rainfall From Damaging Your Foundation
You can take several steps in April to prevent rainfall from causing damage to your building’s foundation. Proper grading of the ground around your foundation is essential to avoid standing water, which can increase soil saturation levels. Your property around your foundation should be graded at a 5% slope to allow heavy rainfall to drain away naturally from your home. Rain spouts should also have extensions added to them to allow the exit point for rainwater to be six feet from your home’s foundation. Equally important is the regular maintenance of your gutters, as clogged gutters can cause rainwater to fall off your roof and accumulate around your foundation. At Tom’s Basement Waterproofing, we can help you with preventative foundation damage and help you with foundation and waterproofing repairs during the heavy rains we see in April.
Foundation Repair and Basement Waterproofing Services in Metro Detroit
Whether you are dealing with damage to your foundation or basement walls from increased hydrostatic pressure, soil erosion issues, or water intrusion, Tom’s Basement Waterproofing is here to help with our affordable services. We have several different repair options for the variety of problems April weather can bring to your foundation, and we will work with you and your budget to form an effective foundation repair plan. Contact us today to schedule a foundation inspection at (586) 949-7826.