Faulty Foundations: What Causes Them?
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The base of a home is typically known as the foundations. Strong foundations are key to preventing your home from sinking into the ground (or, worse, collapsing).
Unfortunately, many homes develop foundation issues over time. This can include cracks in the foundations, which can lead to leaks and pest infestations. In other cases, the foundations may sink on one side, causing floors to become sloped and leading to doors that don’t open/close or even water pressure issues.
Fixing faulty foundations can be expensive, but often necessary to maintain the structural integrity of your home. To avoid dealing with foundation issues, it may be possible to take steps to preserve your foundations. This involves understanding what causes foundation problems. Below is a guide to some of the most common causes.
Flooding
If too much water settles around the base of your property, the ground can potentially become soft and unstable, causing your home to sink. Properties in flood-prone zones are very susceptible to this. There are several different ways in which you can protect your foundations against flooding:
- Incorporate grading so that water flows away from the house
- Install french drains around your property to collect water and redirect it
- Install flood walls around your property
- Install a waterproof membrane around the foundations
Blocked gutters
Gutters are designed to direct water runoff from your roof into a drain so that it does not collect around the base of your property. If gutters are clogged with leaves or debris, water can spill over the sides and cause foundation issues. Make sure to annually clear your gutters to prevent this from happening. Gutter damage can also lead to leaks – you may need to hire gutter repair services to fix your gutters if you notice leaks.
Burst pipes
Burst pipes – especially pipes underneath your home – can also cause the earth to become wet and loose, leading to issues like cracks and subsidence. This could be a water pipe or a sewage pipe. Look out for signs such as the sound of hissing water, unusual wet soil around your property, water pressure problems, sewage smells or a high water bill. A plumber will be able to identify where the leak is coming from and repair it.
Earthquakes
Unsurprisingly, earthquakes can damage your home’s foundations. Properties in earthquake-prone zones need specially designed foundations – measures like foundation bolting, base isolation systems and reinforced concrete bases are commonly used to absorb seismic waves and reduce shifting during an earthquake.
Tree roots
Trees can pose a danger if they are too close to your home. Not only are branches an issue, but roots can also be worth considering – they can potentially disturb the foundations as well as making soil dry and compacted. Getting these roots removed may be necessary to protect your foundations. Alternatively, you could consider installing root barriers.
Clay-rich soil
One of the worst types of soil to build a property in is clay-rich soil. Clay softens and expands when exposed to water and therefore foundations are more likely to move. Deep foundations or reinforced strip footings are often required to prevent a home sinking.
Conclusion
There are many things that can cause faulty foundations. However, it is often possible to prevent foundation issues – either by protecting them against water or roots, or by making improvements to your foundations.
