Cracks in the basement are not only unsightly, they are telling you that your have a problem. Whether the problem is surface water from your gutters or downspouts, clogged drains or crumbling or defective cement, you need to address the problem.
Before considering searching for Foundation Contractors in Houston TX, you can check your gutters and downspouts as a possible culprit. Check your gutters and downspouts to make sure they are in proper working order. Keep leaves and debris from your gutters. Make sure your gutters are sloping to the proper side where the drainage pipe goes to the ground. Does the pipe splash on the ground right against your foundation? If it does, you need to run your drainage pipe away from your house by at least 10 feet. If you’re still getting water or additional cracks in your foundation, your problems may go deeper into the foundation.
Over time, French drains in basements can clog from wear and tear, and sometimes improper installation. The pressure of the water with the soil against your basement wall can cause the basement to bow or twist, risking the stability of your home above. Leaking basements and bowed walls let moisture into your home, which can create a mold issue throughout your basement and possibly into your home affecting your health.
Improper drainage causes undermining around your foundation. What is undermining? It’s basically an air pocket where there is no dirt under the footer of your house which holds your walls up of your basement and your home. This leads to bowing, twisting and cracks in your walls and floors of your basement. Plugging cracks with caulking or epoxy only stops the water leak, but doesn’t correct the bigger problem that you have an actually makes the undermining worse. Professional Foundation Contractors in Houston TX can come to your home and assess the problem.
There are numerous options for a leaky or bowing basement. Wall anchors, beams, or new French drains are only a few. These are not projects that you want to undertake yourself. You need to call a professional for the structural safety of your home.
