How Landscaping Affects Your Home's Foundation

Photo by Omri D. Cohen on Unsplash

It’s National Gardening Week, a perfect time to update the landscaping around your home. Before you begin, consider how the choices you make might impact your foundation.

Problems with a home’s foundation are usually caused by the very three things you need for landscaping: soil, plants, and water (or the lack of it). The soil supports and, if you have a basement, surrounds your foundation. Some plants have large, powerful root systems that can cause damage as they grow. And too wet or too dry conditions cause plants to die and the soil to expand and contract, leading to sinking, cracking, or leaking foundations.

Mother Nature never sleeps! Still, you can rest easy (and have beautiful gardens) by following these important landscaping tips:

Use proper grading – Slope the soil away from your foundation. If you need to add fill, it should be clay or other dense dirt. A layer of mulch on top is a great way to keep the ground moist during droughts, just keep in mind that rainwater flows right through it so don’t use mulch in place of dirt.

Plant shrubs and trees a safe distance away – This means about five feet for shrubs and at least 20 feet for trees. It’s a good idea to ask an expert what varieties are best and where it’s safe to plant them.

Avoid drains and outlets – Keep dirt, mulch, and plants away from sump pump discharge lines, which need to be clear to do their job.

Clean gutters – Keep gutters free of leaves and other debris. In addition, make sure downspouts are directed away from the foundation and will discharge water a few feet out into the yard.

Be careful with hardscapes – Make sure patios, sidewalks, and driveways are properly slanted to direct water away from your foundation.

Keep at least three inches of your foundation visible – This will allow you to see cracks and other issues that might develop.

If you notice anything new or unusual, call the professionals at Ayers right away. One of our knowledgeable team members will inspect your foundation, diagnose the problem, and provide a free same-day estimate. If everything looks good, they’ll let you know. If not, you can rely on our highly trained crews to make your home stable and safe again.