How Your Yard Affects Your Home

 

While we always encourage people experiencing water or foundation issues to call us for a free inspection and provide no-obligation quotes to make the process comfortable and easy, it’s true that there are some problems that can be taken care of without the need for expert intervention. The origin of this type of problem is usually in your yard - that’s part of the reason that we inspect your home inside AND outside. Let’s go over some common problems your yard can cause and how they affect your home.

 

Short Downspouts

 

One of the quickest ways to saturate your home’s foundation is to have short downspouts that empty right at the base instead of extending into the yard. In addition to the rain falling and soaking the ground, you also get a deluge of water from the gutters directed right at your home. Since water will always try to move to a lower pressure area - even if that means moving through concrete - it’s not uncommon for water to soak through the walls and find even the most miniscule cracks.

 

Extending downspouts is a simple project that takes a trip to a home improvement store and an hour or two to accomplish, and just the simple act of diverting water further away can have big results.

 

Incorrect Grading

 

This can be a problem in conjunction with the downspouts, or it can cause trouble all on its own. If your yard slopes toward your home - whether naturally or because of landscaping projects - it will also divert water that way. Changing the grading can take care of this and help move water away from the foundation.

 

Grading projects can be as simple as removing that new garden bed you put in last year or can be more extensive and complicated and involve experts (like building up your yard to counteract a natural hill). 

 

Tree Roots

 

Did you plant a tree a few years before you noticed a new wall crack? Tree roots could be to blame. As a tree grows and takes root, the root system expands, so if it’s close to your house the roots could put pressure on your foundation walls. 

 

This is one of the issues that you can’t often solve yourself. Wall braces may be necessary to stabilize the wall against further damage, and professionals may also be needed in the event that you want to relocate the tree to make sure that the entire root system is removed.

 

Additions/Improvements/Projects

 

Anytime you start digging deeper than a common garden, you change the structure and stability of the soil around your home. Having an addition built onto your home can obviously cause problems, but so can putting in a pool or a new porch. When soil is disrupted it becomes less stable, which can leave the foundation walls unsupported.

 

Other than “don’t do it,” which isn’t feasible, there isn’t much you can do to prevent effects from projects like this. The key is to work with licensed, accredited professionals and watch for later problems. And then call us.

 

What’s going on outside of your home has a huge effect on what happens inside. Whether you have water problems or new wall cracks, it’s important to start with changes you’ve noticed outside. We’re here to help - just call to schedule your free inspection.