Find out about the 5 ways to stop soil erosion around foundations. After all, when erosion occurs and soil is displaced, house foundations are exposed to the elements, including wind and water. Worse yet, it can lead to foundation settling and the need for foundation repair.
5 Ways to Stop Soil Erosion Around Foundations:
1. Plant Small Shrubs Around Your Foundation
Plant roots become firmly entrenched in the dirt and help keep soil in place. It’s important that you have the proper landscaping along the perimeter of your foundation. Plants are an excellent, relatively inexpensive way of halting soil erosion.
2. Install Gutters
When massive amounts of water are allowed to creep beneath your foundation, soil can be washed away. Water carries a great deal of weight and slowly, but surely, it can have a devastating effect on your structure.
3. Install a Drainage System
In some cases, it may be best to install a couple of them. French drains are an effective means of preventing soil from wearing away from your foundation. They protect foundations by directing water away from your house. It is wise to tie your gutters into a French drain, where the water will then be released a safe distance away. In the event that standing water is an issue, a surface drainage system might also be required. Drains are an excellent way to prevent soil erosion and foundation damage.
4. Make Sure Your Soil is Properly Graded
The dirt around your foundation should be on a downward slope. This will help ensure that moisture does not become an ongoing concern. The general rule of thumb is that soil should be graded at a 3-6% slope away from your foundation. This pertains to the first 10 feet of ground. It is crucial that your foundation is not positioned at a negative slope.
5. Check for Plumbing Leaks
Broken pipes can be a problem that you can’t even see. It’s possible for leaks in slab foundations to go undetected for years. Pier and beam foundations can also be severely damaged due to soil erosion caused by water. Terminating plumbing leaks beneath your foundation is just one way of stopping erosion. Soil should never be extremely wet.
How To Know If The Soil Around Your Foundation Is Eroding?
The best way to find out is to visually inspect your foundation. If you pull back the hedges and see less than 4” of your foundation showing, keep an eye on things. You don’t want the soil to get any lower than that. If it does, have a landscape company add native soil around your foundation. (This is not a service we provide.) It’s wise to also be on the lookout for any sources of unwanted moisture.
If you have questions about the ways to stop soil erosion around foundations, call a foundation contractor or drainage expert for advice. If you have visible damage due to erosion (window gaps, brick/tile cracks), contact HD Foundations for a foundation repair estimate in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.