Constructing a New Home? Learn How to Avoid Foundation Repairs

Concrete foundations are some of the strongest solutions you could opt for when constructing a new residence. Nonetheless, this does not mean that they are immune to damage. The key to prolonging the lifespan of your foundation as well as ensure the structural integrity of your home is ensure that the during the construction phase the foundation is protected from external factors that would compromise it. Read on to learn how best to avoid foundation repairs.

Ensure that the site has been properly graded

Ideally, your construction site should have enhanced drainage so that there is minimal risk of water collecting on the ground. However, it is not a guarantee that you will find this as your location could depend on an assortment of factors ranging from your budget, what land was available to you and more. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that your contractors take extra precaution to have the site graded as adequately as possible. Without proper grading, any wet weather will pose the risk of water pooling around your foundation.

Over time, these seemingly innocuous puddles of water start to disintegrate the concrete and could pose the risk of concrete cancer developing in your foundation. Always try to have some degree of incline created on the property before your foundation is constructed.

Ensure your soil stays hydrated

It may seem counter intuitive to try to keep water away from your foundation but also strive to make sure that the ground around it stays moist. There is some logic behind this, though. When soil becomes excessively dry, it starts to shrink. As the shrinking progresses, the soil steadily begins to pull away from the structure.

Once the wet seasons rolls around, the soil absorbs moisture at a fast rate and expands quickly. The sudden contraction and expansion of the soil exert pressure against your foundation. As a result, your concrete foundation becomes at risk of stress fractures if this happens for the long term. To prevent this undue stress, you should ensure that the soil surrounding the structure is kept moist from the construction phase up until you start living in the home. An easy way of achieving this is by investing in soaker hose that will keep the soil hydrated.

Keep vegetation a safe distance away   

Trees and vegetation are essential landscaping elements for some homeowners. Nevertheless, your attempts at improving the kerb appeal of the property could pose the risk of foundation damage. Extensive root networks can suck moisture away from the soil, which would counter your efforts of keeping the soil surrounding your foundation moist. Additionally, large roots from big trees can also pose the risk of penetrating your foundation, which would cause cracks.