How To Prevent Foundation Damage From Frozen Ground

Many northern states like Michigan experience ground freezing from time to time. This is the result of water in the soil pooling together and turning into ice. You may not be able to turn the temperature up outside, but there are some precautions you can take to prevent foundation damage from frozen ground. Check out these tips from our Michigan basement waterproofing company.

Waterproof Your Basement

Basement waterproofing is essential in Michigan. This creates a moisture barrier in your basement that prevents water from seeping in from the soil. This will not take the water out of the soil, but it will stop it from getting into the pores of your foundation. When the water freezes, it will only adjust the soil outside of the foundation, not your foundation itself.

Tom’s Basement Waterproofing has proudly served the Metro Detroit, MI area for over 40 years, and 85% of our business comes from referrals. If you would like our help protecting your home or business foundation, feel free to give us a call at (586) 776-7270.

Direct Roof Runoff Away From Your Foundation

In order for ground freezing to damage a home’s foundation, there needs to be enough water pooled up to form large sheets of ice. This water is usually from melting snow, but it could also be from roof runoff that is not properly drained from the property. Test your gutters and downspouts to ensure that water is being safely directed away from your foundation. If not, you may want to make adjustments while the weather is still warm to reduce your risk of damages.

Clean Your Gutters

This falls in line with the tip above. If your gutters are clogged, they cannot move water away from your property. You should clean your gutters right before the fall and right after the last leaves have fallen. You could also install gutter guards to prevent leaves from piling into the gutters. The better the water can drain from your property, the less you will have to worry about foundation damage from freezing soil.

Trim Trees And Bushes That Block Sunlight

You may not have the power to melt the snow around your property, but the sun does. The more direct sunlight hits your foundation, the less ice you will have to worry about. If you have trees or shrubs that are blocking the sunlight in this area, you may want to trim them back so the rays can melt the ice. You can also try stirring mulch or other landscaping features from time to time so the freezing water does not turn into large blocks of ice.