As we prepare for colder months, ensuring your home’s foundation is ready for winter’s challenging conditions is essential. At Tom’s Basement Waterproofing, we have worked since 1975 to give Michigan residents the tools they need to keep their foundations sturdy and their basements dry. By understanding how the local climate affects your foundation and basement, you can know what signs of damage to look for and how to prevent damage from weather. Let’s take a closer look at climate and weather and how they play a role in the health of your foundation.
How Temperature Changes Impact a Foundation
Temperature can significantly affect many common damages we see in foundation repair jobs. As the temperatures drop in fall and winter, soil can expand as trapped moisture freezes and grows in the ground. When this happens, the frozen soil around your foundation can exert large amounts of pressure on your home’s foundation, leading to the heaving of walls or lifting of the foundation. In some foundations, a frost heave can occur when water in the soil freezes and pushes the soil around the foundation upwards. When temperatures warm again, soil can shrink as ice melts and water evaporates. This shrinking of the soil can cause a foundation to settle and crack. Over time, these freeze-thaw cycles can begin to damage a home foundation, leading to structural problems and leaky basements. If you are worried about the integrity of your home’s foundation as we approach colder weather, call Tom’s Basement Waterproofing today to schedule an inspection.
How Droughts Impact a Foundation
While droughts are relatively rare in our state, they occur and can quickly damage foundations. When a drought or extended dry period occurs, changes in the soil around a foundation begin. As the soil starts to dry out, it can shrink, leading to areas of a foundation that are no longer supported by the ground. When this happens, you may notice uneven settling of your home. The signs of an unevenly settling foundation can include cracks in the foundation, cracks in walls, and windows and doors that don’t close properly.
How Flooding Impacts a Foundation
Flooding is known to damage a home’s foundation quickly. The hydrostatic pressure exerted on a foundation can be immense when a flood occurs. This can lead to the bowing and cracking of a foundation and, in the worst scenario, complete failure of a foundation. Floods also risk washing away soil from a foundation, leading to uneven settling and cracking.
Steps You Can Take to Protect your Foundation Year Round
While the weather can be unpredictable and powerful in Michigan, there are some steps you can take at home to protect your foundation year-round. These include:
Ensuring Proper Drainage Around Foundations: Excessive water accumulating around a foundation can wash away soil and increase the risk of leaks developing in your basement. These risks can be mitigated by:
- Installing gutters and rainspouts
- Grading the ground to slope away from the foundation
- Keeping an eye out for areas of pooling water near the foundation
Controlling Moisture Levels: Excessive moisture in the soil around a foundation can contribute to frost heaves during freeze-thaw cycles. Installing a vapor barrier and being mindful of overwatering plants near a foundation are two ways to control soil moisture levels.
For Expert Foundation Help in Michigan, Contact Tom’s Basement Waterproofing
While Michigan’s seasons can be harsh on a foundation, Tom’s Basement Waterproofing is here for you at the first signs of trouble. If you notice signs of damage to your foundation, like cracks, leaks, or uneven settling, call our team at (586) 949-7826 to restore your foundation’s structural integrity.