From clay-rich soils to the simple act of aging, there are many things that could end up damaging the foundation of your home. As many a commercial repair service has seen (as well as many a residential foundation repair service as well), foundation problems are far from rare. Fortunately, there are a number of steps that can be taken to prevent such foundation damage from ever occurring – or at least from spreading and becoming a worse and more extensive problem than it originally was.
For instance, proper building methods of foundation can help to keep them in good shape for years to come, protecting the overall structural integrity of the home or of the commercial building in doing so. Take, for instance, a pier and beam foundation. A pier and beam foundation can be incredibly effective when it constructed with care and precision, but this construction process must include not only high quality materials and skilled laborers who know what they are doing, but close attention to detail as well.
For instance, the beams in this type of foundation must be spaced very specifically from one another. In ideal conditions, they will be spaced about a foot away from each other. Such spacing of joists is also critical for pier and beam foundations. Ideally, joists will be separated by 18 inches in total. But there is no doubting the fact that a pier and beam foundation type, while ideal for some homes, will not be a good choice for others.
Take, for example, places where clay-rich soils are common. Clay-rich soils can make the construction of homes and buildings far more difficult, something that many people might not realize before actually living in an area where clay-rich soils are commonplace. For areas where clay-rich soils are particularly prevalent, the use of a slab foundation is likely to be ideal. This is, after all, the case in the state of Texas, where most homes that have been built relatively recently (within the last 50 or so years, to be more specific) have a slab foundation instead of another type of foundation like a pier and beam foundation. This slab foundation allows the home to “float” about clay-rich soils instead of sinking too far into it.
With up to 60 different types of soils found in just the one state of Texas alone, however, it can be difficult to decide what type of foundation will be ideal for your home, from slab foundations ideal for clay-rich soils to a variety of other types of foundations that are commonly found throughout the country. Having an expert soil analysis conducted can help to make a decision on what type of foundation is used, as an expert soil analysis will be able to determine whether or not there is a considerable presence of clay-rich soils on the property.
In addition to choosing the right type of foundation for the soils and the property in question, the average home owner can also take a number of different steps to prevent damage to the foundation as well, something that can help to avoid foundation issues in the long run. For instance, using a soaker is only advisable if you’re able to do so no closer than 12 inches from the foundation of the home. Some foundation experts will actually even recommend that a soaker be used no more than 18 inches from a home in order to most thoroughly prevent soil damage and foundational damage from occurring.
Taking care of the foundation of your home is something that will be hugely important for just about every single home owner out there. After all, the foundation is integral to the overall structural integrity of the typical home, and having foundation issues can cause issues in many other aspects of your home as well. From making sure to choose the right type of foundation to conducting any foundation repairs that become necessary, the care and keeping of your foundation is hugely essential, something that any foundation expert will be quick to tell you.
