The foundation is one of the most important parts of any home. There are three primary forms of home foundation: crawl spaces, slabs, and full basements. Slabs can be found in homes with or without a basement (in a basement the slab can be the basement floor). If the foundation becomes compromised in any way, it can directly affect the structural integrity of the house. Thankfully, there are a number of ways for foundation repair contractors to repair and maintain your home’s foundation in a good condition, and this article will take a look at a few of those ways.
- Have the Foundation Waterproofed: One way to have your home’s foundation repaired and maintained is to have the foundation professionally waterproofed. One of the most common ways for a foundation to be damaged is through water. Of all homes with basements, over 98% will experience some type of water damage. There are two types of waterproofing services: exterior waterproofing will waterproof the outside of the foundation, particularly if your home has a basement, and interior waterproofing takes care of the inside of the foundation. By using exterior waterproofing and interior waterproofing together, your foundation will be relatively safe from water damage and can also provide up to a 30% return on investment.
- Employ Slab Foundation Repair Services: Another way to have your home’s foundation repaired and maintained is to employ slab foundation repair services if cracks develop in your home’s foundation slab. Small cracks in and of themselves are not a sign of imminent collapse. It’s normal for the ground to shift and move over time, causing small cracks to form. If the foundation is tested and shown to be otherwise stable, these cracks can be repaired and sealed, keeping the foundation whole.
- Have the Basement Walls Repaired and Reinforced: And finally, a third way to have your home’s foundation repaired and maintained is to have the basement walls repaired and reinforced if necessary. Sometimes the basement walls, which form parts of the foundation, can buckle or form very large cracks due to extreme water damage that can potentially occur if exterior waterproofing was not applied. To keep the foundation in good repair, the walls need to be repaired and reinforced in such a way that they will not collapse for a long time, if ever.
In conclusion, there are a number of ways you can have your home’s foundation repaired and maintained. These ways include having the foundation waterproofed inside and out, employing slab foundation repair services if necessary, and having the walls of the basement repaired and reinforced. These are just a few of the ways to keep the foundation in good repair.
