The foundation of your house keeps your home erect, but it does not mean that it is invincible. Despite being protected by layers of earth, water can still get to it and cause damages. So here are our tips regarding house foundation protection.
First, do some proper landscaping to protect the foundation of your home. This will not only keep your garden looking clean and neat but will also ensure that the ground is not overflowing with water. As such, create the right slope for your landscape so that all excess water from your flower beds can run off the opposite direction from the foundation. The proper grading is about 6 inches for every 10 feet.
Next, if you are thinking of planting a big tree, make sure it is far away from the foundations so that the roots of the tree will not interfere with the structure of your home. Smaller plants like shrubs and smaller trees are beneficial for your surrounding landscape as they prevent erosion and offer good shading.
Here is a list of trees that offer good house foundation protection:
- Cherry
- Wax myrtle
- Ligustrum
- Juniper
- Boxwood
- Magnolia
- Redbud
- Ivy
Bigger trees such as willows, silver maple or poplars should be avoided in a backyard. In addition, all trees should be planted at least at a 5 feet distance from the house.
Besides trees and landscaping, you should also have a good gutter system in order to protect your house’s foundations. Use gutter extensions if necessary to redirect water from the downspouts to the designated water accumulation spots on the ground which should be placed far away from the house.
Also, do not forget to clean your gutters so that no rainwater overflows. Use rain barrels if necessary. These are systems that collect water that runs off from gutters.
Last but not least, make sure you landscape all sides of the house and not just the front or the back. Landscaping only one side means that one side of your foundation will receive more water than the other. As such, soil will push against that side of the foundation and cause damage on that side. This also promotes soil erosion only on one side and creates cracks in the foundation which in turn distorts the structure of the house making it unstable.
For more information on house foundation protection methods contact us at RH Renovation NYC, the best renovation contractors in the area.
