After dealing with a long, hot summer, cooler fall temperatures are right around the corner. If you’re a homeowner, you may be wondering how to protect your foundation in Fall. After all, Dallas, Fort Worth weather changes can lead to foundation cracks and other issues. It’s a good idea to get some tips on how to safeguard your slab or pier and beam foundation this season.
Protecting The Exterior Of Your Foundation In Fall:
When considering how to keep your foundation safe, one way is to prevent water from seeping beneath your foundation. Heavy rainfalls and the lack of a proper foundation drainage, system can do considerable damage to your foundation. It can cause upheaval in concrete slabs, and lead to mold and mildew in crawl spaces. To protect your foundation in Fall, install gutters if you don’t already have them. Make certain to connect them to downspouts that push the water far enough away from your house to prevent moisture issues.
Since October is a particularly rainy month int the Dallas, Fort Worth area, it’s wise to also examine your property to see if your soil is properly graded away from your foundation. If you have a negative slope, contact a landscape company who can regrade the area next to your home. Standing water can be the source of massive deterioration.
Soil erosion can also be an issue. Learn 5 ways to stop soil erosion around foundations. This is a condition you need to prevent all year round, including in the Fall and Winter.
Other Ways To Safeguard Your Foundation During The Cool Season:
With the Fall weather come all sorts of house related concerns. If you see cracks on the inside or outside of your home, this could signal a foundation problem. Or, it could just be a situation where you need nothing more than to calk around your windows and doors. You’ll want to fix any large gaps around windows or doors now, before the really cold weather sets in. Expansive clay soil in the Dallas, Fort Worth area expands when it’s wet, and the movement resulting from this can lead to an increase in the size of your cracks. What’s more, any holes or sizeable cracks can allow critters to enter your house and also let cold air in. Big slab foundation cracks could even allow water to enter your home. Thoroughly inspect your foundation to make sure it’s safe.
If you have concerns about your foundation this Fall, contact HD Foundations for a free foundation evaluation. We service the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.