As a homeowner, you may not be aware that you should keep an eye on the moisture in your home to prevent the development of mold and mildew due to elevated humidity. But did you know you should also make sure your home’s foundation doesn’t get too dry?
Now that it is summer and we experience heat waves and droughts, it is important to keep in mind how the heat can affect your home’s foundation, crawl space, and basement.
Your Foundation Can Crack
As the soil around your home dries in hot weather due to the lack of rain, it will contract and pull away from the foundation of your home. As such, your foundation can crack, causing not only cosmetic damage to your foundation but costly structural damage.
To prevent the soil from pulling away from your home, we recommend checking the moisture of the soil around your home regularly. The soil should be slightly damp to the touch, not bone dry or soaked. If the soil is dry, dampen it with a light spray from your hose. It is important to remember to not soak the soil. In doing so, you may cause more problems than you fix.
Your Home Could Sink
With all of that drying, your house could settle unevenly causing it to sink. This sinking can result in:
- Uneven floors
- Difficulty opening and closing doors and windows
- Cracks in and around your home
Needless to say, these symptoms can make your home frustrating to live in and tough to sell if you are looking to put your home on the market. Knowing the type of soil around your home can and will go a long way in preventing sinking and cracking of your home’s foundation. For example, if you are on a soil that is heavy with clay, it will be more prone to drying and cracking in dry conditions and expand when wet.
Consult A Professional
If you notice cracks in your foundation, mold, or uneven floors, call a professional immediately. They will be able to determine the extent of the sinking and cracking and recommend solutions to get your home stable and safe again.
Virginia Basement offers foundation crack repair to get your home back to its original structural integrity, as well as reducing mold and radon. By taking steps to protect your home’s foundation, you can sleep easy knowing your home a stable and healthy foundation.
