Wednesday, 12 February 2014

Ensuring Your Foundation Is Safe

By Vince Blackmill


If they found an area of the house that was clearly unsafe, such as a hole in the floor or loose ceiling fan, any sane homeowner would waste no time getting it repaired. But what about areas of the home that aren't as readily visible, but could still pose a large safety hazard to your family? Likely the most common issue of that category would be problems with the home's foundation. It's best to have the foundation examined by a professional at least twice a year.

Talking to most experts in the field, you would likely find them telling you the same thing: A home should not drop more than one foot for the first ten feet. If that is not achievable, then the bare minimum would be no more than 6 inches for the first 5 feet.

The cause of foundation problems can most often be traced to unstable or loose soil. Issues with a home's foundation can lead to great risks to both the property and the person who lives on it. During the construction phase, there are steps that can be taken to reduce this risk, like ensuring that the soil is compacted to the proper degree. Otherwise, the soil may shift and create voids. Soil from other areas moves in to fill these voids, and as a result, the home that rests on it is now less supported in certain areas.

You might be surprised just how few homes actually meet these basic safety recommendations. Especially in areas that experience a wide range of weather patterns and altitudes, they can be fairly difficult to follow. Climate can be big factor in the state of a home's foundation. Rain and other types of moisture can slowly erode the foundation, and soil could get washed away or become saturated to the point of shifting. This just makes it all the more important to check the land for warning signs at least twice a year. Most often, the earlier a problem is found, the easier it is to deal with. Needed repairs and soil gaps should be dealt with as soon as they're detected.

A good foundation will not only keep your family from potentially risky situations, but will also add value to the home if you plan on selling it and moving. A smart potential buyer will want information on every important aspect of the home, and the foundation is one of the most important. Keeping it in good order can be a very valuable selling point.

If a foundation is poorly made and/or poorly maintained, it can pose a large threat to the investment you made when you purchased the home. For that reason, getting the foundation checked and dealing with repairs as early as possible is an incredibly important part of owning a home.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment