Tips for Home Foundation Maintenance

To keep your home sturdy and safe, paying attention to its foundation is essential. Winnipeg’s extremes in weather, be it dry, wet or freezing, take its toll. The cost of foundation maintenance can be minimal and require little time & effort. But major foundation repair can cost you thousands. With some simple monitoring & maintenance, you can ensure your home’s foundation is in good shape for years to come.

1. Do regular foundation inspections. Even if you don’t see cracks in the walls or foundation, you should still do foundation inspections at least twice per year. Walk around your house, inside & out, looking for things like cracks (in the foundation, walls & ceiling), buckling walls or floors, sagging roof, doors that stick or swing open, window frames that look like they no longer fit. If you notice any signs that suggest the foundation may be damaged (or suffering), call in a specialist to investigate. If you catch a problem before it becomes too severe, you may be able to do minor repair work without needing a major overhaul.
2. Don’t ignore minor cracks. Take a photo, and write down its location & length. Re-measure every couple of months. If the crack is getting longer, it may be time to get a specialist in to find the cause. 
3. Maintain consistent moisture levels in the soil around your house to limit soil expansion & contraction. Maintain drainage around your foundation during wet periods, and add water during dry periods. In dry months, the soil shrinks and starts to crumble around & underneath your home, causing the foundation to shift. This results in wall & ceiling cracks, and settling – a drop in the floor. If there is a gap between the soil and foundation, it’s time to start watering the soil around the foundation, about 6 FT (1.8 M) away from the house, letting the water get down into the ground. But be sure not to overwater, as excess soil moisture is also a culprit, possibly seeping into your porous concrete foundation. Moisture causes the soil to expand, and if this expansion is concentrated in only one area of your foundation, it will cause movement, resulting in foundation cracks. In winter, melting snow can creep into those cracks, freezing & thawing, further exacerbating the problem. The type of soil around your house will affect its moisture retention. Sandy soil remains stable as water passes through it, while soils rich in clay undergo significant expansion & contraction based on their moisture content, putting enormous pressure on your foundation walls. When water turns to ice, its volume increases. Thus, when wet soil freezes, the wedging or heaving force on your foundation can be extremely powerful.
4. Provide drainage away from the foundation perimeter, encouraging even moisture content, and ensure there is no standing water near the foundation wall. Inconsistent moisture can cause movement in the foundation. And don’t forget about your downspouts – 1 downspout per 35 FT (10.7M) of gutter, ideally extending 6 FT (1.8M) from your house.
5. Make sure trees around your home are not causing foundation problems. Check with a specialist, especially if trees are large. Be sure to keep them watered in dry months, and don’t be stingy! If the trees can’t find the needed moisture, they will venture towards the moist soil beneath your foundation.
6. Grade soil away from the foundation. For the first 5 FT, a 5% slope at least, so water flows away from the foundation. Ensure flowerbeds, sidewalks, patios, driveways next to the house drain drain away from the foundation.
7. Maintain a steady temperature/humidity inside your home to prevent foundation expanding & contracting. A whole home dehumidifier is a good investment, working with the furnace & air conditioner to keep the relative humidity low.
8. Check for leaks inside and around your home, including checking the sewer line, potable water lines, and plumbing system. Leaking water can cause adjacent areas of the soil to have inconsistent moisture levels, damaging the foundation. An unexpected increase in your water bill could mean a hidden leak.