Your home is likely one of your most valuable assets from both an emotional and financial perspective. Keeping that home standing strong not only provides you with a space to call your own, but a degree of financial security that’s worth protecting. Here are a few tips that will help you to maintain your home’s foundation and keep it in good condition.

Monitor it for Damage

First of all, you should consistently monitor your foundation for damage. If you feel that you need more of an expert opinion, particularly if your house is older, then hire an inspector to examine the condition of your foundation. If you do have foundation damage, you might start to notice some indoor signs, such as cracking flooring or walls, or windows and doors that don’t open or close easily. On the exterior, you might notice sloped walls, cracked bricks or siding, a broken foundation, etc.

Prevent Water Damage

Water damage is one of the most common issues that occur around foundations. A sloping yard helps prevent water from damaging the foundation. Make sure your plumbing, gutters, and plant watering is all directed away from the house so puddles and flooding don’t develop around the foundation. This could crack your foundation over time and make it unsteady. However, you don’t want the ground to be too dry near your home’s foundation either. This can cause your home to sink and your foundation to crack. So, if you live in an extremely dry climate where the ground around your house is visibly very dry, make sure that you spray the earth to keep it moist without any puddles or flooding.

Keep an Eye on Plants

Another risk to your home’s foundation that could present itself is plant growth. You should be careful to not plant any larger plants too close to your home. If you do, their roots might try to grow into your foundation, and any watering that is done to these plants could also cause water damage. You should always make sure that you’re not planting anything closer than two feet from the foundation. You should also keep an eye on trees that you have surrounding your house to make sure that their roots don’t grow too close to the foundation for similar reasons.

So, if you suspect that your home has foundational issues, or if you’re just trying to prevent these issues from occurring, make sure that you remember the tips in this article. Remember to monitor your foundation for issues, prevent water damage, and keep an eye on plants. This will help you to preserve the structural integrity of your home and foundation for years to come.

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