How to Maintain Your House Foundation

At its most basic level, a house’s foundation is not only something that holds your home up, but a structure that keeps out moisture, insulates against the cold, and mitigates shifting of the earth around it. According to This Old House, a “good” foundation is one that features steel-reinforced foundation walls and footings made of poured concrete — but what if you do have a proper house foundation and you’re still experiencing issues with it? It may mean it’s time to look into problems that it could be facing, and learn how to mitigate them. After all, it’s arguably the most important part of your home, so keeping it in top notch condition is key.

Identifying Problem Areas 

There are several issues that can plague your foundation, several of which may require some pretty urgent house foundation repair. If you’re suspicious of some looming issues, be on the lookout for a few things you can spot:

  • Cracks on interior walls or by doors and window frames
  • Stair-shaped cracks in brick siding
  • Sticking doors or doors that won’t close
  • Gaps or separations in the trim
  • Shifting of trim on interior surfaces
  • Countertop or backsplash separation


Experiencing any of these problems? We recommend calling a professional to inspect the home and recommend the necessary
house foundation repairs.

Proper Prevention & Maintenance 

Now that we’ve got your attention on what could go wrong, let’s talk about how to stop any of these things from happening in the first place. If you’ve done a thorough investigation of your home and don’t see any signs of foundation problems, take some precautions before it’s too late.

The number one thing you can do to prevent house foundation issues is scheduling routine gutter cleaning appointments. This way, experts like the ones at Labor Panes can ensure proper water drainage, taking some of the pressure off of the foundation and expelling water away from the home. Additionally, if your home is susceptible to excess foliage and debris year-round, gutter guards may be a suitable option. Other things you can consider include creating gently sloped landscaping features with mulch, installing drains, and repairing minor cracks with caulk. For more tips on how to keep your house in the clear all year, read our blog article about window cleaning, too. 

Let’s face it, you never want to find out your foundation is at risk, or worse, in serious trouble. But luckily, there are tons of experts and professionals that can help make repairs — plus, there’s several things you can do to prevent these issues from happening at all. If you’re interested in our gutter cleaning services, contact us today to learn more, and be sure to read our blog about how to detect and prevent dry rot for other valuable homeowner information.

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