Risks to Your Foundation After a Storm

Risks to Your Foundation After a Storm 

The foundation of the home is the area in which the actual home sits on. During construction, a strong foundation will set the base for the home to be created, including flooring, walls, the ceiling and roof. The foundation must be set in place correctly so the home will last for decades. Settling commonly occurs which means as the soil under the foundation becomes accustomed to the home, movement can occur. This is why older homes tend to have small cracks or fractures in the walls or foundation.
A foundation is an area that home owners need to be aware of but not an area of the home that is monitored each day. However, foundations can be greatly affected by storms and should be assessed when bad weather occurs. Such natural weather patterns as flooding, hurricanes or tornados can damage the foundation which can lead to major issues in the home.

Earthquake

If you live in a region that is prone to earthquakes, the foundation must be inspected after an earthquake of any magnitude. When the ground is shaken, so is your foundation. If you feel a tremor, take a trip around the outside of your home to view the foundation. Look for cracks in blocks, concrete slabs or in the bricks of a chimney. Small cracks that already exist can be magnified which can lead to flooding under the foundation or in a basement area.

Hurricane and Flooding

Hurricanes can be strong rains that lead to flooding which can lead to damage to the foundation of the home. Flooding can also occur during strong thunderstorms. When flooding takes place, the soil is forced to expand. This will add pressure to the foundation of the home and will cause cracking.
To avoid such problems with flooding, it is important to make sure that water is not directed towards the home. Soil excavation must be done to a grading of 6 inches in 10 foot slopes away from the home to ensure no standing water around the foundation. Home owners should also examine the downspouts of the home. Downspouts are used to move rain from the roof away from the home. The downspout should move five to ten feet from the home so water is not sitting at the foundation. Extensions can be added to ensure that any runoff from the roof is removed far away from the home.

Tornado Damage

Areas prone to tornados are subject to heavy rains which can lead to flooding damage but roots of large trees should also be considered. With tornados come heavy winds which can uproot trees. You want to be sure that any trees that are located near the home are removed to ensure roots do not begin to grow under the foundation. If a tree with roots under the home were to be knocked down due to high winds, the roots can push through the foundation and cause major damage.
These are just a few ways that the foundation of a home can be damaged due to natural causes.

Be sure to inspect your foundation when bad weather occurs to maintain the integrity of your home.