Expert Foundation Wall Replacement in Ohio & Indiana

The soil along your foundation goes through cycles throughout the year. These cycles create strain on your foundation that ultimately appears in the shape of cracks.

Excessive Soil Pressure: Simply put, soil that is saturated with water weighs more. Heavy rains and melting snow cause soil to become heavier and heavier. The soil pressure pushes against your foundation walls, creating what is known as hydrostatic pressure.

A dry soil weighs around 80-100 lbs. per cubic foot versus saturated soil weighing 110-140 lbs. per cubic foot.

Why is it a problem for foundations? Because concrete is porous and water vapor will penetrate the concrete.

As it dries out, water vapor will exit and create pathways for future water penetration. Repeat year after year and the concrete starts wearing out. And as this cycle continues, homeowners could be staring down foundation issues in the long run.

The longer the wear and tear continues, replacing a block foundation wall may be the best solution.

Soil Freeze Thaw Cycles: Have you ever had a small chip or crack in your windshield? When winter arrives, that small chip turns into a long crack because of water-ice expansion.

The same principle applies to foundation problems and saturated soils. Frozen soils expand and increase foundation pressure. Then the soil thaws, relieving the pressure. The soil shrinks, but this causes a back and forth of the basement foundation wall until the wall starts bowing inward.

How can you slow down mother nature? At Forever Foundation Repair, here are some exterior tips to prolong the health of your foundation.

Drainage and Grading Matters: Moisture can cause a variety of problems for your home. The cost-effective hero that will help reduce soil pressure is proper drainage and grading.

Direct the water away from your foundation with your gutters and downspouts. Clean your gutters and downspouts twice a year, in the spring and fall. This ensures that your gutters are free and clear to move water away from your home during the crucial seasons of spring and winter. Regular cleaning will prevent any overflowing gutters.

Ensure that you grade your yard away from the foundation to prevent water from collecting near it. Additional water will increase soil pressure and can lead to basement leaks.

Tree Roots and Other Stressors: We’ve all seen tree roots push up sidewalks to create an uneven surface. That is a prime example of the strength of tree roots. Now imagine what they can do underground and along your foundation wall.

A root is simply seeking water for the trees. This leads to direct pressure against your foundation, and can lead to wall cracks, bowing walls, and structural issues.

If you plant new trees, keep them away from your home. If there are trees that are near the foundation, homeowners can investigate root barriers to direct growth away from the foundation.

Other stressors that can lead to foundation issues are heavy loads. A heavy load outside your home could be the weight of vehicles or concrete pads. These large items force soil down and push it outward, and it increases the pressure on the foundation of your home.

Preventative maintenance is a great way to save money on your basement walls. Developing a moisture control plan will keep the cost to repair much cheaper than the cost of replacement.